Estramustine, Docetaxel, and Carboplatin in Treating Patients With Prostate Cancer That Has Not Responded to Hormone Therapy

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

* Histologically confirmed adenocarcinoma of the prostate
* Disease progression following androgen ablation therapy (hormonal or surgical) by either:

  * Increase in the product of bidimensional diameters of 1 or more radiographically documented sites of measurable disease OR
  * Two consecutive increases in PSA documented over a previous reference value

    * First increase in PSA should occur a minimum of 1 week from the reference value and be confirmed
    * First PSA value is less than the previous value, then patient is eligible provided next PSA is greater than the second PSA
* Testosterone levels documented in the castrate range (i.e., less than 30 ng/mL)

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

Age:

* 18 to 85

Performance status:

* CALGB 0-2

Life expectancy:

* Not specified

Hematopoietic:

* WBC at least 3,000/mm3
* Platelet count at least 100,000/mm3

Hepatic:

* Bilirubin normal
* SGOT no greater than 2.5 times upper limit of normal (ULN) if alkaline phosphatase normal OR
* Alkaline phosphatase no greater than 4 times ULN if SGOT normal OR
* SGOT no greater than 1.5 times ULN and alkaline phosphatase no greater than 2.5 times ULN

Renal:

* Creatinine no greater than 2.0 mg/dL

Cardiovascular:

* No myocardial infarction within past year
* No significant change in anginal pattern within past 6 months
* No New York Heart Association class II-IV heart disease
* No deep venous thrombosis within past year

Other:

* No significant peripheral neuropathy

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

Biologic therapy:

* Not specified

Chemotherapy:

* Prior chemotherapy allowed except taxanes or platinum derivatives

Endocrine therapy:

* See Disease Characteristics
* At least 4 weeks since prior antiandrogens

Radiotherapy:

* At least 4 weeks since prior radiotherapy

Surgery:

* See Disease Characteristics