DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

• Histologically confirmed stage IV locally advanced or metastatic transitional cell carcinoma of the urothelium that is not amenable to curative surgery or radiotherapy

  • T4b or N2 or N3 or M1
  • No pure adenocarcinomas, pure squamous carcinomas, or small cell carcinoma
• Evaluable or bidimensionally measurable disease If only single lesion, must not be within portal of prior irradiation

• No active CNS metastases

  • Adequately treated CNS metastases eligible provided stable for 8 weeks following therapy and no longer requires steroids or antiseizure medication
• No clinically significant pleural effusions or ascites unless drained prior to administration of methotrexate

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

Age:

• 18 and over

Performance status:

• CALGB 0-1

Life expectancy:

• At least 12 weeks

Hematopoietic:

• Granulocyte count at least 1,500/mm^3
• Platelet count at least 100,000/mm^3
• Hemoglobin at least 9.0 g/dL (transfusion allowed)

Hepatic:

• Bilirubin less than 1.5 mg/dL
• SGOT less than 2.5 times upper limit of normal

Renal:

• Creatinine no greater than 1.5 mg/dL OR
• Creatinine clearance at least 50 mL/min

Cardiovascular:

• No uncontrolled cardiac disease (e.g., congestive heart failure, arrhythmia, or angina)

Pulmonary:

• No uncontrolled pulmonary disease (e.g., chronic obstructive pulmonary disease)

Other:

• Not pregnant or nursing
• Negative pregnancy test
• Fertile patients must use effective contraception during and for 3 months after study participation
• No concurrent active infection
• No known hypersensitivity to docetaxel, methotrexate, cisplatin, gemcitabine, filgrastim (G-CSF), oprevelkin, or any component of these products
• No serious concurrent medical disorder
• No medical or psychiatric conditions that would compromise consent or preclude completion of study
• No other malignancy within the past 3 years except:
• Carcinoma in situ of the cervix
• Adequately treated nonmelanoma skin cancer
• Stage I or II prostate cancer provided adequate local therapy (surgery or radiation) has been administered and PSA is less than 1.0 ng/mL
• No preexisting peripheral neuropathy grade 2 or greater

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

Biologic therapy:

• Not specified

Chemotherapy:

• No prior systemic chemotherapy for metastatic disease
• At least 6 months since prior neoadjuvant or adjuvant chemotherapy
• No other concurrent chemotherapy

Endocrine therapy:

• No concurrent steroids

Radiotherapy:

• See Disease Characteristics
• No concurrent radiotherapy

Surgery:

• See Disease Characteristics
• At least 3 weeks since prior major surgery and recovered

Other:

• No other concurrent investigational drugs