Inclusion Criteria

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

- Must meet 1 of the following criteria:

- Newly diagnosed patients with any of the following:

- Stage T3 or T4, NX, M0 histologically confirmed prostate adenocarcinoma
with prostate-specific antigen (PSA) ≥ 20 ng/mL or Gleason score ≥ 6

- Any T, N+, M0, or any T, any N, M+ histologically confirmed prostate
adenocarcinoma

- Multiple sclerotic bone metastases with a PSA ≥ 50 ng/mL without
histological confirmation

- Patients with histologically confirmed prostate adenocarcinoma previously
treated with radical surgery or radiotherapy who are currently in relapse with
on of the following:

- PSA ≥ 4 ng/mL and rising with doubling time less than 6 months

- PSA ≥ 20 ng/mL

- Must have written informed consent

- Intention to treat with long-term androgen-deprivation therapy

- Normal testosterone level prior to hormonal treatment

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

- WHO performance status 0-2

- No other prior or current malignant disease or cardiovascular system disease that is
likely to interfere with study treatment or assessment

- No cardiovascular disease, including any of the following:

- History of cerebral ischemia (e.g., stroke or transient ischemic attack) within
the past 2 years

- History of deep vein thrombosis or pulmonary embolism confirmed radiologically

- History of myocardial infarction (MI) within the past 6 months OR MI more than 6
months ago with evidence of q-wave anterior infarct on ECG

- ECHO or MUGA required for patients with history of ischemic heart disease

- Left Ventricular Ejection Fraction ≤ 40%

- No condition or situation that could preclude protocol treatment or compliance with
follow-up schedule

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

- See Disease Characteristics

- At least 12 months since prior adjuvant or neoadjuvant hormonal therapy for localized
prostate cancer AND therapy lasted ≤ 12 months in duration

- No prior systemic therapy for locally advanced or metastatic prostate cancer

- No concurrent participation in another clinical trial of prostate cancer treatment
that would preclude study therapy or outcome measures

- Concurrent prophylactic radiotherapy to prevent gynecomastia allowed