Inclusion Criteria:

- Histologically documented adenocarcinoma of the prostate

- Previous treatment with either radical prostatectomy or radiation therapy

- Salvage radiotherapy for local relapse allowed

- Neoadjuvant or per radiotherapy Hormonal therapy allowed in case of more than 6
months free-interval before first rising PSA

- Life expectancy of more than 12 months

- Non metastatic disease documented by imaging including radionuclide bone scan

- ECOG performance status 0-1

- ANC > 1,500/mm3

- Platelet counts > 100,000/mm3

- SGOT and/or SGPT may be up to 2.5 x ULN

Patients at high risk of biological relapse defined by:

- Gleason > 8

- PSA-DT < 6 months

- Positive surgical margins

- PSA velocity > 0.75 ng/mL/year

- Pathological pelvic lymph nodes involvement (pN+)

- Time from initial treatment until inclusion < 12 months

Exclusion Criteria:

- Prior chemotherapy by taxanes and estramustine phosphate

- Documented local recurrence of prostate cancer or documented metastatic disease

- History of other malignancy within the last 5 years other than curatively treated
basal cell carcinoma of the skin

- Active infection

- Significant cardiac disease, angina pectoris or myocardial infarction within twelve
months

- Clinically significant neuropathy

- Medical condition requiring the use of concomitant corticosteroids

- Prohibited concomitant therapy with experimental drug.

- Participation in another clinical trial for the period < 30 days