DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

• Histologically or cytologically confirmed adenocarcinoma of the prostate

  • Androgen-independent disease
  • Metastatic disease measured by clinical or radiological evidence

• Disease progression during hormonal therapy, defined by one or more of the following:

  • Increasing serum PSA levels on ≥ 2 measurements at least two weeks apart
  • Progressive measurable disease (by RECIST criteria) independent of PSA
  • Bone scan progression with at least one new lesion
• Must be receiving primary androgen ablation therapy with gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonists (GnRH) as maintenance therapy unless surgically castrated
• Serum PSA > 5 ng/mL
• No history of brain metastasis or leptomeningeal disease

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

• ECOG performance status 0-1
• WBC ≥ 3,000/mm³
• Absolute granulocyte count ≥ 1,500/mm³
• Platelet count ≥ 100,000/mm³
• Creatinine ≤ 2.0 times the upper limit of normal (ULN)
• Total bilirubin normal
• AST and ALT ≤ 5 times ULN
• INR ≤ 1.5 and PTT normal (before the start of chronic anticoagulation)
• Fertile patients must use effective contraception during and for ≥ 3 months after completion of study therapy
• No symptomatic neuropathy grade ≥ 2
• No HIV positivity
• No history of cancer except basal cell or squamous-cell skin cancer within the past 5 years
• No history of deep vein thrombosis or pulmonary embolism within the past year

• No serious medical illness including, but not limited to, any of the following:

  • Ongoing or active infection requiring parental antibiotics
  • Clinically significant cardiovascular disease (e.g., uncontrolled hypertension, recent myocardial infarction, unstable angina)
  • NYHA class II-IV congestive heart failure
  • NYHA class II-IV peripheral arterial vascular disease within the past year
  • Psychiatric illness or social situations that would limit study compliance
• No history of severe hypersensitivity reaction to docetaxel or other drugs formulated with polysorbate 80

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

• See Disease Characteristics
• At least 4 weeks since prior flutamide or nilutamide (6 weeks for bicalutamide)

• At least 4 weeks since prior radiotherapy

  • Must have radiographic evidence of progression of any lesion that has received radiotherapy in order for that lesion to constitute measurable disease or be considered a measured target lesion
• Prior vaccine therapy allowed
• Prior and/or concurrent zoledronic acid therapy allowed
• No prior cytotoxic chemotherapy
• No prior radioisotope therapy
• No concurrent cytochrome P450 enzyme-inducing antiepileptic drugs (e.g., phenytoin, carbamazepine, or phenobarbital)
• No concurrent rifampin or St. John's wort

• No concurrent inhibitors of CYP3A, including any of the following:

  • Ketoconazole
  • Voriconazole
  • Itraconazole
  • Fluconazole
  • Cimetidine
  • Clarithromycin
  • Erythromycin
  • Troleandomycin
  • Grapefruit juice
• No concurrent combination antiretroviral therapy for HIV-positive patients
• Concurrent bisphosphonate therapy allowed