This phase I/II trial studies the side effects and best dose of sirolimus when given together with cisplatin and gemcitabine hydrochloride and to see how well they work in treating patients with bladder cancer. Biological therapies, such as sirolimus, may stimulate or suppress the immune system in different ways and stop tumor cells from growing. Drugs used in chemotherapy, such as cisplatin and gemcitabine hydrochloride, work in different ways to stop the growth of tumor cells, either by killing the cells, by stopping them from dividing, or by stopping them from spreading. Giving sirolimus together with cisplatin and gemcitabine hydrochloride may be an effective treatment for bladder cancer.

PRIMARY OBJECTIVES:

I. To define the maximum-tolerated dose (MTD) of sirolimus (rapamycin) combined with gemcitabine hydrochloride and cisplatin (GC). (Phase I)

II. To determine the pathologic complete response rate at cystectomy in patients with localized, muscle invasive carcinoma of the bladder (clinical tumor [T]2-4, node [N]0 or N1). (Phase II)

SECONDARY OBJECTIVES:

I. To assess the response rate to rapamycin combined with GC. (Phase I)

II. To assess effect of rapamycin with GC on deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) damage surrogates in cancer associated stroma compared to untreated and GC treated stroma. (Phase I)

III. To assess effect of rapamycin with GC on DNA damage surrogates in cancer associated stroma compared to untreated and GC treated stroma. (Phase II)

IV. To assess toxicity of the MTD dose of rapamycin with GC. (Phase II)

OUTLINE: This is a phase I, dose de-escalation study of sirolimus followed by a phase II study.

Patients receive sirolimus orally (PO) two hours before or after grapefruit juice on day -2, cisplatin intravenously (IV) on day 1 and gemcitabine hydrochloride IV over 30 minutes on days 1 and 8. Treatment repeats every 21 days for up to 6 courses in the absence of disease progression or unacceptable toxicity. Patients undergo cystectomy as clinically appropriate after 1-4 courses of treatment.

After completion of study treatment, patients are followed up for 28 days.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Signed informed consent form (ICF) providing agreement to adhere to the dosing schedule, report for all trial visits and authorization, use and release of health and research trial information

• Histologically or cytologically confirmed carcinoma of the bladder of all histologies except neuroendocrine differentiation or squamous cell histology

• Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status of =< 1

• Eligibility for phase 1 and phase 2 components:

  • Phase 1 - clinical T3 or T4 or N1 or M1 cancer which is untreated or previously treated with platinum based therapy with primary tumor still present in the bladder and amenable to sampling before and after treatment, as indicated
  • Phase 2 - clinical T2-4 N0 or N1 untreated with primary tumor still present in the bladder and amenable to sampling before and after treatment, as indicated

• Life expectancy >= 12 weeks

• No prior malignancy is allowed except:

  • Adequately treated basal cell or squamous cell skin cancer or
  • In situ carcinoma of any site or
  • Other adequately treated malignancy for which the patient is currently disease free for at least one year

• Absolute neutrophil count >= 1.5 x 10^9 cells/L

• Hemoglobin (Hgb) >= 9.0 g/dL

• Platelets >= 100,000 x 10^9/L

• Aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT) =< 1.5 x upper limit of normal (ULN)

• Bilirubin and total bilirubin levels =< 1.5 x ULN

• Serum creatinine < 1.5 X institutional ULN mg/dL OR glomerular filtration rate (GFR) >= 50 mL/min

• All pre-study labs required for determination of eligibility are to be completed within 30 days prior to day -2 (or the next business day if falls on a weekend or holiday)

• X-rays and/or scans to assess all disease sites are to be completed within 30 days prior to day -2 (or the next business day if falls on a weekend or holiday)

Exclusion Criteria:

• Patients currently receiving active therapy for other neoplastic disorders
• Known parenchymal brain metastasis
• Active or symptomatic viral hepatitis or chronic liver disease
• Clinically significant heart disease as evidenced by myocardial infarction, or arterial thrombotic events in the past 6 months, severe or unstable angina, or New York Heart Association (NYHA) class II-IV heart disease or cardiac ejection fraction measurement of < 45 % at baseline, if done
• Atrial fibrillation, or other cardiac arrhythmia requiring medical therapy
• Administration of an investigational therapeutic within 30 days of cycle 1, day 1
• Patients with dementia/psychiatric illness/social situations that would limit compliance with study requirements or would prohibit the understanding and/or giving of informed consent
• Patients with medical conditions, which, in the opinion of the investigators, would jeopardize either the patient or the integrity of the data obtained will not be eligible
• Any condition which, in the opinion of the investigator, would preclude participation in this trial