Phase II trial to study the effectiveness of trastuzumab in treating patients who have previously treated, locally advanced, or metastatic cancer of the urothelium. Monoclonal antibodies can locate tumor cells and either kill them or deliver tumor-killing substances to them without harming normal cells.

OBJECTIVES:

I. Determine the response rate in patients with previously treated, locally advanced or metastatic transitional cell carcinoma of the urothelium treated with trastuzumab (Herceptin).

II. Determine the safety of this drug in this patient population. III. Determine overall and progression-free survival of this patient population treated with this drug.

OUTLINE:

Patients receive a loading dose of trastuzumab (Herceptin) IV over 90 minutes on day 1 of week 1. For all subsequent doses, patients receive trastuzumab IV over 30 minutes weekly. Treatment may continue for more than 1 year in the absence of unacceptable toxicity or disease progression.

Patients are followed every 3 months for 1 year and then every 6 months thereafter.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Histologically confirmed transitional cell carcinoma (TCC) of the urothelium, including the bladder, urethra, ureter, or renal pelvis

  • No pure adenocarcinomas, pure squamous cell carcinomas, small cell carcinoma, or only small foci of TCC (less than 10% of tumor specimen)
  • Locally advanced (T4b) TCC of the bladder
  • Metastatic (N2 or N3 or M1)TCC of the urothelium
  • HER2 expression (3+) as determined by immunohistochemistry or gene amplification by fluorescent in situ hybridization

• Must not be a candidate for potentially curative surgery or radiotherapy

• Measurable disease

  • At least 1 unidimensionally measurable lesion of at least 20 mm by conventional techniques OR at least 10 mm by spiral CT scan

  • The following lesions are considered nonmeasurable:

    • Bone lesions
    • Leptomeningeal disease
    • Ascites
    • Pleural/pericardial effusion
    • Lymphangitis cutis/pulmonis
    • Abdominal masses not confirmed and followed by imaging techniques
    • Cystic lesions
    • Primary bladder masses

• Relapsed from or failed to achieve a complete or partial response after 1 prior systemic chemotherapy regimen for TCC, including cisplatin, carboplatin, paclitaxel, docetaxel, or gemcitabine

  • Prior adjuvant or neoadjuvant chemotherapy is considered 1 prior chemotherapy regimen
  • Prior single-agent chemotherapy as a radiosensitizer is not considered a prior systemic chemotherapy regimen

• No known brain metastases

• Performance status - CTC 0-2

• More than 12 weeks

• Absolute neutrophil count at least 1,000/mm^3

• Platelet count at least 75,000/mm^3

• Bilirubin no greater than 2 times upper limit of normal (ULN)

• AST no greater than 2 times ULN

• Creatinine clearance at least 30 mL/min

• Ejection fraction at least 50% (or lower limit of normal) by echocardiogram or MUGA

• No history of ongoing congestive heart failure

• No active cardiac ischemia

• Not pregnant or nursing

• Negative pregnancy test

• Fertile patients must use effective contraception

• No other prior malignancy within the past 5 years except adequately treated basal cell or squamous cell skin cancer or carcinoma in situ of the cervix

• HIV negative

• No known autoimmune disease

• No prior trastuzumab (Herceptin)

• At least 14 days since prior radiotherapy

• At least 30 days since prior chemotherapy

• Prior doxorubicin allowed provided cumulative dose is no greater than 300 mg/m^2

• Prior epirubicin allowed provided cumulative dose is no greater than 600 mg/m^2

• No concurrent chemotherapy

• No concurrent hormonal therapy except:

  • Steroids given for adrenal failure
  • Hormones administered for nondisease-related conditions (e.g., insulin for diabetes)
  • Intermittent dexamethasone as an antiemetic or for sensitivity reactions to study drug

• No concurrent palliative radiotherapy

• Prior radiotherapy allowed provided treated area is not only site of measurable disease

• At least 14 days since prior surgery