Gemcitabine, Cisplatin, and Amifostine Following Surgery in Treating Patients With Locally Advanced Bladder Cancer

You may be eligible if

• DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:
• Completely resected locally advanced bladder cancer
• * T2-4, N0-2
• Post radical cystectomy with no gross residual disease
• No evidence of metastases by CT of chest, abdomen, and pelvis
• PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:
• Age:
• 18 and over
• Performance status:
• Karnofsky 70-100
• Life expectancy:
• At least 12 weeks
• Hematopoietic:
• WBC at least 3,500/mm\^3
• Platelet count at least 100,000/mm\^3
• Hemoglobin at least 9.0 g/dL (transfusion allowed)
• Hepatic:
• Bilirubin no greater than 2 times upper limit of normal (ULN)
• AST and ALT no greater than 3 times ULN
• Renal:
• Creatinine no greater than 2.0 mg/dL OR
• Creatinine clearance at least 50 mL/min
• Other:
• Not pregnant or nursing
• Fertile patients must use effective contraception during and for 3 months after study participation
• No active infection
• No serious concurrent systemic disorders that would preclude study participation
• No metastatic cancer in past 5 years
• PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:
• Biologic therapy:
• No concurrent immunotherapy
• Chemotherapy:
• No other concurrent chemotherapy
• Endocrine therapy:
• No concurrent hormonal therapy except contraceptives and replacement steroids
• Radiotherapy:
• No concurrent radiotherapy
• Surgery:
• See Disease Characteristics
• At least 4 but no more than 8 weeks since radical cystectomy
• Other:
• No other concurrent experimental medications