MEN-10755 in Treating Patients With Progressive Prostate Cancer That Has Not Responded to Hormone Therapy

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

* Histologically confirmed hormone-refractory adenocarcinoma of the prostate
* Disease progression while on prior luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone (LHRH) analogues or after orchiectomy and antiandrogens, given concurrently or consecutively
* Disease progression is defined as PSA progression documented by increases in PSA recorded at 2 consecutive measurements over a prior reference value

  * Interval of at least 1 week between the reference value and the first of these two PSA increases
* Continued elevation of PSA for at least 6 weeks after discontinuation of antiandrogens
* Last PSA value at least 5 ng/mL (Hybritech equivalent)
* Must have serum testosterone less than 50 ng/mL and must continue on LHRH agonist therapy if no prior surgical castration
* No symptomatic brain or leptomeningeal metastatic disease

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

Age:

* Over 18

Performance status:

* ECOG 0-2

Life expectancy:

* Not specified

Hematopoietic:

* Neutrophil count at least 1,500/mm\^3
* Platelet count at least 100,000/mm\^3

Hepatic:

* Bilirubin less than 1.5 times upper limit of normal (ULN)
* ALT/AST no greater than 2.5 times ULN (5 times ULN if liver metastases present)

Renal:

* Creatinine no greater than 1.7 mg/dL
* No uncontrolled hypercalcemia

Cardiovascular:

* No history of severe heart disease
* No myocardial infarction within the past 6 months
* No cardiac insufficiency
* Normal cardiac function by MUGA scan and 12-lead EKG

Other:

* No other prior or concurrent malignancy except basal cell or squamous cell skin cancer
* No uncontrolled systemic nonmalignant disease or infection
* No psychological, familial, or geographical conditions that would preclude compliance

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

Biologic therapy:

* Not specified

Chemotherapy:

* At least 4 weeks since prior chemotherapy

Endocrine therapy:

* See Disease Characteristics
* No prior hormonal therapy except estramustine
* No concurrent estramustine

Radiotherapy:

* At least 4 weeks since prior radiotherapy
* No concurrent radiotherapy (e.g., for painful bone metastases)

Surgery:

* See Disease Characteristics

Other:

* No other concurrent experimental drugs or investigational therapy