Inclusion Criteria

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

- Diagnosis of prostate cancer, meeting 1 of the following criteria:

- Metastatic hormone-sensitive disease prior to initiation of first-line
androgen-deprivation therapy and meets the following criteria:

- Histologic confirmation of original diagnosis

- Hormone-sensitive is defined as progressive disease in the absence of
androgen-deprivation therapy

- Presence of ≥ 3 convincing bone metastases, as defined by bone
scintigraphy, CT scan (MRI if indicated), or plain x-ray

- Metastatic hormone-refractory disease prior to initiation of a first-line
chemotherapy regimen that includes docetaxel and meets the following criteria:

- Histologic confirmation of original diagnosis

- Hormone-refractory is defined as development or advancement of metastatic
disease with castrate testosterone levels (total testosterone < 20 ng/dL)

- Presence of ≥ 3 convincing bone metastases, as defined by bone
scintigraphy, CT scan (MRI if indicated), or plain x-ray

- Must have castrate testosterone levels (< 20 ng/dL) from orchiectomy or
undergoing maintenance with a luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone agonist

- Outside the window of a potential antiandrogen withdrawal response
(either decline in prostate-specific antigen or objective response by
imaging)

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

- Life expectancy > 12 weeks

- No serious underlying medical condition that would otherwise impair the patient's
ability to receive treatment and undergo imaging studies

- No condition that would alter the patient's mental status, prohibiting the basic
understanding and/or authorization of informed consent

- Able to lie still for the imaging

- Weight ≤ 300 lbs

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

- See Disease Characteristics

- At least 6 weeks since prior bicalutamide or nilutamide

- At least 4 weeks since prior flutamide, ketoconazole, diethylstilbestrol, or
estradiol

- More than 4 weeks since prior bisphosphonate therapy

- More than 4 weeks since prior radiotherapy to the bone

- More than 4 weeks since prior radiopharmaceutical treatment to the bone

- No concurrent radiotherapy