Trastuzumab and Docetaxel in Treating Patients Who Have Metastatic Prostate Cancer That Is Refractory to Hormone Therapy

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

* Histologically confirmed stage IV prostate cancer (any T, any N, M1, any G; D3)
* Clinical evidence of metastatic disease in bone or soft tissue
* Her2/neu-positive (2+ and 3+) by immunochemistry or fluorescent in situ hybridization
* Androgen-independent

  * Serum PSA at least 10 ng/mL that has risen on 3 successive evaluations after prior hormonal therapy
  * At least 1 month since prior antiandrogen therapy (e.g., flutamide, bicalutamide, or nilutamide) and rising PSA levels with 1 of the 2 rising PSA levels, measured at least 2 weeks apart, after antiandrogen withdrawal
* Bone only disease and elevated PSA alone allowed
* LHRH analog therapy must continue in patients who have not had prior orchiectomy and have castrate levels of testosterone

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

Age:

* 18 and over

Performance status:

* SWOG 0-2

Life expectancy:

* At least 12 weeks

Hematopoietic:

* WBC at least 3,500/mm3
* Absolute granulocyte count at least 1,800/mm3
* Platelet count at least lower limit of normal (LLN)

Hepatic:

* Bilirubin no greater than 2 times upper limit of normal (ULN)
* SGOT no greater than 2 times ULN

Renal:

* Creatinine no greater than 1.6 mg/dL
* Creatinine clearance at least 50 mL/min

Cardiovascular:

* Ejection fraction more than 50% or more than LLN by MUGA scan or 2-D echocardiogram
* No symptomatic coronary artery disease
* No active ischemia on EKG

Other:

* Fertile patients must use effective contraception
* No other prior malignancy within the past 5 years except adequately treated basal cell or squamous cell skin cancer

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

Biologic therapy:

* No concurrent biologic therapy

Chemotherapy:

* No more than one prior nonanthracycline chemotherapy regimen (including suramin)

Endocrine therapy:

* See Disease Characteristics
* No concurrent corticosteroids as antiemetic

Radiotherapy:

* At least 4 weeks since prior radiotherapy
* At least 3 months since prior strontium chloride Sr 89 and recovered
* No concurrent radiotherapy to measurable lesions

Surgery:

* See Disease Characteristics