DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

• Histologically or cytologically confirmed adenocarcinoma of the prostate

  • Refractory to hormonal therapy

• Metastatic bone disease documented by bone scan and confirmed by x-rays, CT scan, or MRI

  • Patients may also have measurable disease in retroperitoneal, pelvic, or inguinal lymph nodes or the prostate and/or prostatic bed

• Prostate-specific antigen (PSA) progression

  • Two consecutive increases in PSA values

    • Measurements taken at least 1 week apart and at least 4 weeks since prior flutamide, nilutamide, or megestrol-based agent (8 weeks for bicalutamide)
• PSA at least 5 ng/mL
• Testosterone less than 50 ng/dL within the past 3 months

• Treatment with one of the following:

  • Continuing primary androgen suppression with luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone agonist
  • Prior orchiectomy
• No known CNS metastases
• No known visceral metastases (e.g., pulmonary, liver, kidney, or splenic lesions)

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

Age:

• 18 and over

Performance status:

• ECOG 0-2

Life expectancy:

• At least 6 months

Hematopoietic:

• WBC at least 2,000/mm^3
• Absolute neutrophil count at least 1,500/mm^3
• Platelet count at least 100,000/mm^3
• Hemoglobin at least 9.0 g/dL

Hepatic:

• Bilirubin no greater than upper limit of normal (ULN)
• AST no greater than 1.5 times ULN

Renal:

• Creatinine no greater than 1.5 times ULN

Cardiovascular:

• No symptomatic congestive heart failure
• No unstable angina pectoris
• No cardiac arrhythmia

Other:

• Fertile patients must use effective contraception
• No other prior malignancy except adequately treated basal cell or squamous cell skin cancer, noninvasive carcinoma, or other cancer from which patient has been disease free for at least 5 years
• No other uncontrolled concurrent illness
• No ongoing or active infection
• No psychiatric illness or social situation that would preclude study compliance

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

Biologic therapy:

• No more than 1 prior non-hormonal treatment for metastatic disease, including biologic therapy, gene therapy, and antiangiogenesis therapy
• At least 4 weeks since prior biologic therapy or immunotherapy

Chemotherapy:

• No more than 2 prior chemotherapy regimens

Endocrine therapy:

• See Disease Characteristics
• No concurrent steroids
• No concurrent hormonal agents except luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone

Radiotherapy:

• At least 4 weeks since prior radiotherapy
• No prior systemic radiopharmaceuticals (e.g., samarium Sm 153 lexidronam pentasodium and strontium chloride Sr 89)
• No concurrent radiotherapy

Surgery:

• See Disease Characteristics

Other:

• No other concurrent anticancer agents
• Recovered from all prior therapy
• At least 4 weeks since prior PC-SPES
• Prior bisphosphonates allowed
• No prior matrix metalloproteinase inhibitors
• No other concurrent investigational therapy or supportive care
• No concurrent combination anti-retroviral therapy for HIV-positive patients