Inclusion Criteria

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