DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

• Histologically proven adenocarcinoma of the prostate with evidence of metastatic disease including any of the following:

  • Lymph node positive and prostate-specific antigen (PSA) at least 10 ng/mL
  • Bone scan positive and PSA at least 10 ng/mL
  • Prior radical prostatectomy with rising PSA and PSA at least 2 ng/mL
  • Prior radiotherapy and PSA at least 10 ng/mL

  • Prior cryosurgery and PSA at least 10 ng/mL

    • PSA criteria does not apply to patients who are assigned to group B of this study and were previously treated on vaccine trial DFCI-96079
• No symptomatic metastatic disease (no bony pain)
• Complete HLA typing required

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

Age:

• 18 and over

Performance status:

• ECOG 0 or 1

Life expectancy:

• Not specified

Hematopoietic:

• WBC greater than 2,000/mm^3
• Platelet count greater than 100,000/mm^3

Hepatic:

• Bilirubin less than 2.0 mg/dL
• SGPT less than 4 times upper limit of normal

Renal:

• Creatinine less than 4.0 mg/dL

Immunologic:

• No altered immune function such as eczema

• No autoimmune diseases such as the following:

  • Autoimmune neutropenia, thrombocytopenia, or hemolytic anemia
  • Systemic lupus erythematosus, Sjögren's syndrome, or scleroderma
  • Myasthenia gravis
  • Goodpasture's syndrome
  • Addison's disease, Hashimoto's thyroiditis, or active Graves' disease
• HIV negative
• No allergy or untoward reaction to prior vaccinia (smallpox) vaccination
• No hypersensitivity to eggs

Other:

• No prior or concurrent extensive eczema or skin disorders (e.g., extensive psoriasis, burns, impetigo, or disseminated zoster)
• No other concurrent serious illness
• No active infection requiring antibiotics until infection has cleared and antibiotics have been stopped for at least 3 days
• Fertile patients must use effective contraception

• No close contact or household contact with the following high-risk individuals for at least 2 weeks after each vaccination:

  • Children under age 5
  • Pregnant or nursing women
  • Individuals with prior or concurrent extensive eczema or other eczematoid skin disorders
  • Individuals with other acute, chronic, or exfoliative skin conditions (e.g., atopic dermatitis, burns, impetigo, varicella zoster, severe acne, or other open rashes or wounds)
  • Immunodeficient or immunosuppressed individuals (by disease or therapy) such as those with HIV infection

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

Biologic therapy:

• See Disease Characteristics
• See Endocrine therapy
• Prior vaccinia (smallpox) immunization required
• No other concurrent biologic therapy (e.g., interferon or interleukin) for cancer

Chemotherapy:

• No prior chemotherapy for metastatic disease
• No concurrent anticancer chemotherapy

Endocrine therapy:

• No prior hormonal therapy for metastatic disease
• Prior neoadjuvant hormonal therapy followed by prostatectomy or radiotherapy allowed
• Patients previously treated with recombinant vaccinia-PSA vaccine may have hormonal therapy since discontinuing that treatment (Group B)
• No concurrent hormonal therapy or steroids

Radiotherapy:

• See Disease Characteristics
• See Endocrine therapy
• No concurrent radiotherapy

Surgery:

• See Disease Characteristics
• See Endocrine therapy
• No prior splenectomy

Other:

• At least 3 days since prior antibiotics
• No concurrent immunosuppressive treatment (e.g., after organ transplantation)