DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

• Histologically confirmed adenocarcinoma of the prostate

• Disease progression following androgen ablation therapy (hormonal or surgical) by either:

  • Increase in the product of bidimensional diameters of 1 or more radiographically documented sites of measurable disease OR

  • Two consecutive increases in PSA documented over a previous reference value

    • First increase in PSA should occur a minimum of 1 week from the reference value and be confirmed
    • First PSA value is less than the previous value, then patient is eligible provided next PSA is greater than the second PSA
• Testosterone levels documented in the castrate range (i.e., less than 30 ng/mL)

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

Age:

• 18 to 85

Performance status:

• CALGB 0-2

Life expectancy:

• Not specified

Hematopoietic:

• WBC at least 3,000/mm3
• Platelet count at least 100,000/mm3

Hepatic:

• Bilirubin normal
• SGOT no greater than 2.5 times upper limit of normal (ULN) if alkaline phosphatase normal OR
• Alkaline phosphatase no greater than 4 times ULN if SGOT normal OR
• SGOT no greater than 1.5 times ULN and alkaline phosphatase no greater than 2.5 times ULN

Renal:

• Creatinine no greater than 2.0 mg/dL

Cardiovascular:

• No myocardial infarction within past year
• No significant change in anginal pattern within past 6 months
• No New York Heart Association class II-IV heart disease
• No deep venous thrombosis within past year

Other:

• No significant peripheral neuropathy

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

Biologic therapy:

• Not specified

Chemotherapy:

• Prior chemotherapy allowed except taxanes or platinum derivatives

Endocrine therapy:

• See Disease Characteristics
• At least 4 weeks since prior antiandrogens

Radiotherapy:

• At least 4 weeks since prior radiotherapy

Surgery:

• See Disease Characteristics