Vaccine Therapy in Treating Patients With Advanced Adenocarcinoma of the Prostate (Prostate Cancer)

Inclusion Criteria:

* 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
* Performance status - ECOG 0 or 1
* WBC greater than 2,000/mm\^3
* Platelet count greater than 100,000/mm\^3
* Bilirubin less than 2.0 mg/dL
* SGPT less than 4 times upper limit of normal
* Creatinine less than 4.0 mg/dL
* 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
* 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
* See Disease Characteristics
* See Endocrine therapy
* Prior vaccinia (smallpox) immunization required
* No other concurrent biologic therapy (e.g., interferon or interleukin) for cancer
* No prior chemotherapy for metastatic disease
* No concurrent anticancer chemotherapy
* 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
* See Disease Characteristics
* See Endocrine therapy
* No concurrent radiotherapy
* See Disease Characteristics
* See Endocrine therapy
* No prior splenectomy
* At least 3 days since prior antibiotics
* No concurrent immunosuppressive treatment (e.g., after organ transplantation)