• To learn if treatment with hormones in combination with Gleevec (imatinib mesylate) and docetaxel can increase the chances that all of the tumor can be removed and help to decrease the chances of the cancer coming back. [ Time Frame: 6 Years ] [ Designated as safety issue: Yes ]
  

Docetaxel is a drug that was designed to help kill cancer cells. Imatinib mesylate is a drug designed to block cancer cells from growing and dividing. Hormonal treatment with Lupron (leuprolide) or Zoladex (goserelin acetate) is used to lower testosterone levels in the body because prostate cancer cells need testosterone to survive. All patients will have their prostate gland removed after treatment with these drugs.

Before treatment starts, you will be asked questions about your medical history and have a complete physical examination. You will have blood drawn (2 tablespoons) for routine blood tests. You will be asked questions about any medications you are currently taking and have taken in the past. You will have an electrocardiogram (ECG - a test that measures electrical activity of the heart). As part of your standard care for prostate cancer, you will also have a CT scan (or MRI scan) of the abdomen and pelvis along with a bone scan (x-rays of the bones) to see if the prostate cancer has moved to other parts of your body.

For this study, you will receive hormone injections to lower the levels of testosterone in the blood. You will also take imatinib mesylate capsules by mouth and receive treatment with docetaxel by vein to help kill the cancer cells before surgery.

You will receive hormone therapy with either leuprolide or goserelin acetate injections, whichever your doctor feels will give you the most benefit. The hormone injections will be given every other month or every 3 months. During treatment with the hormones, you will also take an anti-androgen drug called Casodex (bicalutamide) by mouth for up to 2 weeks. This drug is being used to help decrease the risks of developing side effects due to the hormone injections (this is the standard of care with hormone treatments). You will take imatinib mesylate capsules every day for 6 weeks starting with the hormone treatments. You will also receive treatment with docetaxel. Docetaxel injections are given by vein over 60 minutes once a week for 4 weeks in a row. This will be followed by 2 weeks with no docetaxel. This 6 week period is considered a course of treatment. You will have up to 3 courses of treatment (18 weeks) with docetaxel. After this treatment is complete, you will have prostate surgery within 4 weeks or when you have fully recovered from treatment.

During treatment, your general health will be monitored and you will have physical exams and blood tests (about 1-2 tablespoons) often to make sure that you are tolerating the treatment safely. If the disease gets worse or you experience intolerable side effects, you will be taken off the study and your doctor will discuss other treatment options with you.

Before surgery, you will be given a general anesthetic. An incision (cut) will be made in your abdomen (lower stomach area) and your prostate gland and lymph nodes in the pelvis will be removed. Before the procedure, the risks will be explained to you and you will need to sign a separate consent form.

After surgery, you will have check-up visits every 3 months for 1 year, then every 6 months for the rest of your life. At these visits, you will have a physical exam and around 1-2 tablespoons of blood collected for routine lab tests. If your doctor feels it is necessary, you may also have CT scans, bone scans, and/or x-rays. These tests are being done to check if the cancer has come back. If the cancer comes back, you will be removed from the study and your doctor will discuss treatment options with you.

This is an investigational study. The leuprolide or goserelin acetate injections, bicalutamide tablets, imatinib mesylate capsules, and docetaxel injections are all FDA approved and are commercially available. Up to 36 participants will take part in this study. All will be enrolled at UTMDACC.