DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

• Histologically confirmed prostate cancer

  • Tumor limited to the prostate

    • Seminal vesical involvement allowed provided all visible disease has been surgically removed
  • No lymph node involvement

• Hormone-sensitive disease

  • Testosterone level > 150 ng/dL

• Evidence of prostate-specific antigen (PSA) progression after completion of definitive surgery and/or radiotherapy, as demonstrated by all of the following:

  • Three consecutively rising PSA values* within the past 6 months, determined by a reference PSA value* followed by 2 rising PSA values* obtained ≥ 4 weeks apart
  • Most recent PSA value* > 0.4 ng/mL (after prostatectomy) OR > 1.5 ng/mL (after radiotherapy)
  • PSA doubling time < 12 months NOTE: *At least 3 PSA values must have been obtained at the same reference laboratory before the baseline PSA value is obtained
• No metastatic disease by physical exam, CT scan, MRI, or bone scan within the past 4 weeks

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

Age

• 18 and over

Performance status

• ECOG 0-1

Life expectancy

• Not specified

Hematopoietic

• WBC ≥ 3,000/mm^3
• Granulocyte count ≥ 1,500/mm^3
• Platelet count ≥ 100,000/mm^3

Hepatic

• AST and ALT ≤ 2.5 times upper limit of normal
• Bilirubin normal
• Alkaline phosphatase normal
• Hepatitis B surface antigen negative
• Hepatitis C antibody negative
• PT/INR normal

Renal

• No proteinuria or abnormal sediment by urine analysis OR
• Urine protein < 1,000 mg by 24-hour urine collection AND no evidence of chronic renal disease
• Creatinine normal OR
• Creatinine clearance ≥ 60 mL/min

Cardiovascular

• No symptomatic congestive heart failure
• No unstable angina pectoris
• No cardiac arrhythmia
• No clinically significant cardiomyopathy

Immunologic

• No history of autoimmune disease that has required systemic immunosuppressive therapy or has impaired CNS, heart, lung, kidney, skin, or gastrointestinal tract function
• No history of allergy or untoward reaction to prior vaccination with vaccinia virus or to any component of the study vaccinia vaccine
• No significant allergy or hypersensitivity to eggs
• HIV negative

• No active autoimmune disease, including any of the following:

  • Addison's disease
  • Hashimoto's thyroiditis
  • Systemic lupus erythematosus
  • Sjögren's syndrome
  • Scleroderma
  • Myasthenia gravis
  • Goodpasture's syndrome
  • Active Graves' disease
• No history of or active eczema
• No ongoing, active infection
• No atopic dermatitis
• No Darier's disease

• No other acute, chronic, or exfoliative skin condition, including any of the following:

  • Burns
  • Impetigo
  • Varicella zoster
  • Severe acne
  • Contact dermatitis
  • Psoriasis
  • Herpes
  • Other open rashes or wounds
• No other evidence of immunosuppression

Other

• Fertile patients must use effective contraception during and for at least 4 months after completion of study treatment
• No psychiatric illness or social situation that would preclude study compliance
• Recovered from any other illness
• No other concurrent uncontrolled illness

• Must be able to avoid close contact (i.e., shares the same house or has close physical contact) with any of the following individuals for ≥ 3 weeks after treatment with the study vaccinia vaccine:

  • Individuals with a history of or active eczema
  • Individuals with active atopic dermatitis
  • Individuals with Darier's disease

  • Individuals with other acute, chronic, or exfoliative skin condition, including any of the following:

    • Burns
    • Impetigo
    • Varicella zoster
    • Severe acne
    • Contact dermatitis
    • Psoriasis
    • Herpes
    • Other open rashes or wounds
  • Pregnant or nursing women
  • Children ≤ 3 years of age
  • Immunodeficient or immunosuppressed individuals either by disease or therapy, including HIV-positive individuals

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

Biologic therapy

• No prior vaccine therapy or immunotherapy for prostate cancer

Chemotherapy

• At least 1 year since prior neoadjuvant or adjuvant chemotherapy

Endocrine therapy

• At least 1 year since prior neoadjuvant or adjuvant hormonal therapy

• More than 1 year since prior testosterone level-modulating therapy, including either of the following:

  • Luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone agonists or antagonists
  • Antiandrogens

• No concurrent systemic steroids

  • Local (e.g., topical, nasal, inhaled) steroids allowed

    • No steroid eye drops for ≥ 2 weeks before and ≥ 4 weeks after vaccinia vaccination
• Concurrent thyroid hormone-replacement therapy allowed

• None of the following agents are allowed during the period in which the PSA levels are determined:

  • 5α-reductase inhibitors
  • Ketoconazole
  • Megestrol
  • Systemic steroids

Radiotherapy

• See Disease Characteristics

Surgery

• See Disease Characteristics

Other

• Recovered from prior therapy
• No herbal products during the period in which the PSA levels are determined
• No other concurrent investigational agents
• No other concurrent anticancer therapy