DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

• Diagnosis of androgen-independent metastatic adenocarcinoma of the prostate, confirmed by 1 of the following:

  • Histologically confirmed disease
  • Pathologically documented disease and clinical course consistent with prostate cancer

• Castrate levels of testosterone with progressive disease by at least 1 of the following parameters:

  • 2 consecutively rising prostate-specific antigen levels, separated by at least 1 week, with at least 1 measurement that is 50% above the nadir reached after the last therapeutic maneuver (must be at least 5 ng/mL)
  • At least 1 new metastatic deposit on technetium Tc 99 bone scintigraphy

  • Progression of soft-tissue metastases by imaging or palpation, as indicated by:

    • Development of new area of malignant disease
    • At least 20% increase in sum of the longest dimension of target lesions

• Serum testosterone less than 50 ng/dL if no prior surgical castration

  • Luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone therapy must continue
• HLA-A2 positive
• No brain metastases

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

Age

• 18 and over

Performance status

• ECOG 0-2

Life expectancy

• More than 6 months

Hematopoietic

• Granulocyte count at least 1,500/mm^3
• Lymphocyte count at least 500/mm^3
• Platelet count at least 100,000/mm^3

Hepatic

• Bilirubin less than 1.5 mg/dL
• AST and ALT less than 2.5 times upper limit of normal (ULN)
• Alkaline phosphatase no greater than 2.5 times ULN OR
• Hepatic alkaline phosphatase fraction less than 2.5 times ULN

Renal

• Creatinine no greater than 1.5 mg/dL OR
• Creatinine clearance at least 40 mL/min
• Proteinuria grade 0-1 OR
• Protein less than 1,000 mg by 24-hour urine collection
• No hematuria
• No abnormal sediment unless non-renal

Cardiovascular

• No unstable or newly diagnosed angina pectoris
• No myocardial infarction within the past 6 months
• No New York Heart Association class II-IV congestive heart failure
• No concurrent clinically significant cardiomyopathy requiring treatment

Immunologic

• No prior allergy or untoward reaction to vaccinia virus vaccination

• No altered immune function, including:

  • Eczema
  • Atopic dermatitis
  • HIV

  • Autoimmune disease

    • Autoimmune neutropenia
    • Thrombocytopenia
    • Hemolytic anemia
    • Systemic lupus erythematosus
    • Sjogren's syndrome
    • Scleroderma
    • Myasthenia gravis
    • Goodpasture syndrome
    • Addison's disease
    • Hashimoto's thyroiditis
    • Active Graves' disease
    • Multiple sclerosis
• No extensive psoriasis, severe acneiform rash, impetigo, varicella zoster, burns, or other traumatic or pruritic skin condition
• No known allergy to eggs

Other

• No other malignancy within the past 2 years except nonmelanoma skin cancer or carcinoma in situ of the bladder
• No other life-threatening or serious illness
• No unhealed surgical scars

• No household or close physical contact with persons with any of the following conditions during or for 2 weeks after study treatment:

  • Eczema or eczematoid skin disorders
  • Acute, chronic, or exfoliative skin conditions (e.g., atopic dermatitis, burns, impetigo, varicella zoster, severe acne, or other open rashes or wounds)
  • Pregnant or nursing women
  • Children under 5 years of age
  • Immunodeficient or immunosuppressed (including HIV positive) individuals
• No history of seizures or encephalitis

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

Biologic therapy

• Not specified

Chemotherapy

• No prior taxanes for metastatic prostate cancer

Endocrine therapy

• See Disease Characteristics
• At least 4 weeks since prior flutamide
• At least 6 weeks since prior bicalutamide or nilutamide
• No concurrent steroids except topical steroids, inhaled steroids for mild or moderate asthma, or decadron as premedication for chemotherapy

Radiotherapy

• Not specified

Surgery

• See Disease Characteristics
• No prior splenectomy

Other

• Recovered from prior therapy