Inclusion Criteria

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

- Histologically confirmed adenocarcinoma of the prostate

- Locally advanced disease (T1 -T3b, N1 or N2, M0) at high risk for recurrence

- Biopsy-proven pelvic lymph node involvement

- No T4 lesion

- Prior androgen suppression within the past 14 months is allowed provided the
following criterion is met:

- No biochemical evidence of PSA progression after androgen withdrawal

- PSA progression, defined as 2 consecutive rising PSA values > 4.0 ng/mL
taken ≥ 2 weeks apart

- No evidence of distant metastasis, including any of the following:

- Bone metastasis

- Pathologic or radiographic evidence of lymph node involvement above the L4 - L5
interspace

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

- Karnofsky performance status 80-100%

- ANC ≥ 1,500/mm³

- Hemoglobin ≥ 10 g/dL

- Platelet count > 100,000/mm³

- Bilirubin normal

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

- Meets 1 of the following criteria:

- Alkaline phosphatase (AP) normal AND AST or ALT ≤ 5 times upper limit of normal
(ULN)

- AP ≤ 2.5 times ULN AND AST or ALT ≤ 1.5 times ULN

- AP ≤ 5 times ULN AND AST or ALT normal

- No peripheral neuropathy > grade 1

- No significant comorbidity that would preclude radiotherapy

- No other prior malignancy except nonmelanoma skin cancer or any other cancer for
which the patient has been disease-free for the past 5 years

- No hypersensitivity to docetaxel or other drugs formulated with polysorbate 80

- No history of Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis, or irritable bowel syndrome

- No unrepaired inguinal hernia

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

- See Disease Characteristics

- No prior pelvic or abdominal radiotherapy or prostate brachytherapy implant

- No prior prostatectomy

- No prior pelvic or abdominal surgery that resulted in excessive amounts of small
intestine located within the pelvis

- No other concurrent investigational agents