DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

• Diagnosis of adenocarcinoma of the prostate

  • Osseous metastases confirmed by radiography
  • Lytic bone lesions considered for biopsy if there is clinical suspicion of histologic conversion to small cell carcinoma
• Failed prior hormonal therapy

• Progressive disease, as evidenced by one of the following:

  • 2 consecutive rises in prostate-specific antigen (PSA) of at least 1 ng/mL over 4 weeks
  • Increase of 25% of the product of bidimensional disease or 30% in maximum diameter
  • Increase in number of osseous metastases by bone scan
  • Worsening symptoms attributable to disease progression (e.g., worsening bony pain)
• PSA ≥ 1 ng/mL

• Castrate serum testosterone ≤ 50 ng/dL

  • Concurrent luteinizing-hormone releasing-hormone analog required for medically castrated patients
• No small cell or sarcomatoid prostate cancers
• No uncontrolled CNS metastases

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

Age

• Any age

Performance status

• ECOG 0-2

Life expectancy

• At least 3 months

Hematopoietic

• Absolute granulocyte count ≥ 1,500/mm^3
• Platelet count ≥ 100,000/mm^3

Hepatic

• Bilirubin ≤ 1.5 mg/dL
• AST and ALT ≤ 2 times upper limit of normal
• No chronic liver disease

Renal

• Creatinine clearance ≥ 40 mL/min

Cardiovascular

• No New York Heart Association class III or IV congestive heart failure
• No unstable angina
• No myocardial infarction within the past 6 months
• No evidence of myocardial ischemia on electrocardiogram
• No uncontrolled severe hypertension

Pulmonary

• No oxygen-dependent lung disease

Other

• HIV negative
• No concurrent severe infection
• No contraindication to corticosteroids
• No uncontrolled diabetes mellitus
• No grade 2 or greater peripheral neuropathy
• No other malignancy within the past 2 years except nonmelanoma skin cancer
• No overt psychosis, mental disability, or incompetency that would preclude giving informed consent
• No history of noncompliance

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

Biologic therapy

• No concurrent immunotherapy

Chemotherapy

• No prior taxanes
• No more than 2 prior chemotherapy regimens
• At least 30 days since prior chemotherapy and recovered
• No other concurrent chemotherapy

Endocrine therapy

• See Disease Characteristics
• At least 4 weeks since prior flutamide or nilutamide*
• At least 6 weeks since prior bicalutamide* NOTE: *Unless there is evidence of interim disease progression

Radiotherapy

• At least 90 days since prior strontium chloride Sr 89 or samarium Sm 153 lexidronam pentasodium and recovered
• At least 30 days since other prior radiotherapy and recovered

Surgery

• Fully recovered from prior surgery

Other

• No concurrent ketoconazole
• No concurrent warfarin