Inclusion Criteria

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: Histologically proven, symptomatic prostate cancer Appearance or
aggravation of clinical symptoms with progression of disease Bone pain OR Urethral
compression OR 20% decrease in performance status Metastatic disease Local-regional or
distant secondary tumors Documented radiologically or scintigraphically Hormone-refractory
as defined by progression while on hormone treatment (simple castration or complete
androgen blockage) Progressive disease No urethral or cervical stenosis Increase of
greater than 25% prostatic volume on endorectal echography No documentation by PSA
increase or imagery only Hormone castration verified by testosterone less than 0.5 ng/mL
No history of CNS metastases

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: Age: Over 18 Performance status: Karnofsky 60-100% Life
expectancy: No specified Hematopoietic: Neutrophil count greater than 1500/mm3 Platelet
count greater than 100,000/mm3 Hemoglobin greater than 9 g/dL Hepatic: Bilirubin less than
1.5 times normal Renal: Creatinine less than 1.6 mg/dL Cardiovascular: Ventricular
ejection fraction at least 50% Other: No contraindication to anthracycline treatment No
prior primary cancer except basal cell skin cancer

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY: Biologic therapy: Not specified Chemotherapy: No prior
chemotherapy Arm I: No concurrent chemotherapy Endocrine therapy: At least 1 month since
prior hormone therapy, including estramustine, except LHRH agonists, which continue Arm I:
No concurrent estramustine Radiotherapy: At least 3 months since prior strontium 89 No
concurrent strontium Surgery: See Disease Characteristics