Inclusion Criteria

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

- Histologically confirmed adenocarcinoma of the prostate with any of the following:

- Prostate-specific antigen ≥ 10 mg/dL

- Bone disease

- Bidimensional soft tissue disease

- Evaluable disease

- Advanced disease AND failed prior primary androgen ablation therapy, including
anti-androgen withdrawal

- Disease not amenable to local curative treatment

- No known brain metastases

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

- ECOG performance status 0-1

- Absolute neutrophil count ≥ 1,500/mm^3

- Platelet count ≥ 100,000/mm^3

- Creatinine < 2.0 mg/dL

- SGPT and SGOT < 1.5 times upper limit of normal (ULN)

- Bilirubin ≤ ULN

- Hemoglobin ≥ 10 g/dL

- Ejection fraction ≥ 50%

- Peripheral neuropathy ≤ grade 1

- Fertile patients must use effective contraception during and for 3 months after
completion of study treatment

- No previous history of or concurrent malignancy, except for any of the following:

- Inactive nonmelanoma skin cancer

- Disease-free for five or more years

- Adequately treated stage I or II cancer from which patient is currently in
complete remission

- No other serious medical illness that would limit survival to less than 3 months

- No psychiatric condition that would prevent informed consent

- No active, uncontrolled bacterial, viral, or fungal infection

- No hemorrhagic disorder

- No history of severe hypersensitivity reaction to other drugs formulated with
polysorbate 80

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

- See Disease Characteristics

- No new hormonal treatment within the past 4 weeks

- No prior immunotherapy, chemotherapy, or bone-seeking radiopharmaceuticals (e.g.,
strontium chloride Sr 89 or samarium Sm 153 lexidronam pentasodium)

- Prior bisphosphonates allowed

- At least 2 weeks since prior radiotherapy

- No other concurrent chemotherapy