DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

• Histologically confirmed localized adenocarcinoma of the prostate that has not undergone local therapy
• Must be a candidate for definitive radiotherapy and agree to be treated with external beam radiotherapy alone or in combination with brachytherapy
• HLA-A2 positive (arms I and II and at least 9 patients accrued to arm III)
• Prior vaccinia immunization required

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

Age:

• 18 and over

Performance status:

• Zubrod 0-1 OR
• ECOG 0-1

Life expectancy:

• Not specified

Hematopoietic:

• Absolute lymphocyte count at least 600/mm^3
• Platelet count at least 100,000/mm^3
• Hemoglobin at least 8.0 g/dL

Hepatic:

• Bilirubin no greater than 1.6 mg/dL
• AST and ALT no greater than 4 times normal
• No hepatic dysfunction that may be exacerbated by interleukin-2 (IL-2)

Renal:

• Creatinine no greater than 1.5 mg/dL OR
• Creatinine clearance greater than 60 mL/min
• No abnormal urinalysis (proteinuria less than 150 g/24 hours) unless cause is non-renal
• No concurrent renal disease that may be exacerbated by IL-2

Cardiovascular:

• No concurrent cardiac disease that may be exacerbated by IL-2

Pulmonary:

• No concurrent pulmonary disease that may be exacerbated by IL-2

Immunologic:

• HIV negative
• No history of allergy or adverse reaction to prior vaccinia vaccine
• No known allergy to eggs
• No active infection requiring antibiotics (including chronic suppressive therapy)
• No active or prior eczema or other eczematoid skin disorders
• No acute, chronic, or exfoliative skin conditions (e.g., atopic dermatitis, burns, impetigo, varicella zoster, severe acne, or other open rashes or wounds)
• No altered immune function

• No autoimmune disease, including any of the following:

  • Autoimmune neutropenia, thrombocytopenia, or hemolytic anemia
  • Systemic lupus erythematosus
  • Sjögren's syndrome
  • Scleroderma
  • Myasthenia gravis
  • Goodpasture's syndrome
  • Addison's disease
  • Hashimoto's thyroiditis
  • Active Graves' disease

Other:

• No other serious illness
• No other malignancy within the past 3 years except basal cell or squamous cell skin cancer
• No prior seizures, encephalitis, or multiple sclerosis

• No close household contact with the following individuals for at least two weeks after vaccinia inoculation:

  • Individuals with active or prior eczema or other eczematoid skin disorders
  • Individuals with acute, chronic, or exfoliative skin conditions (e.g., atopic dermatitis, burns, impetigo, varicella zoster, severe acne, or other open rashes or wounds) until condition resolves
  • Children under age 5
  • Pregnant or nursing women
  • Immunodeficient or immune-suppressed individuals by disease or therapy, including HIV infection

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

Biologic therapy:

• See Disease Characteristics

Chemotherapy:

• Not specified

Endocrine therapy:

• Concurrent hormonal therapy allowed
• No concurrent glucocorticoids
• No concurrent dexamethasone or other corticosteroids as antiemetics

Radiotherapy:

• See Disease Characteristics
• No prior radiotherapy to more than 50% of nodal groups

Surgery:

• No prior disease-related surgery
• No prior splenectomy

Other:

• At least 3 days since prior antibiotics