Docetaxel, Estramustine, and Thalidomide in Treating Patients With Androgen-Independent Metastatic Adenocarcinoma of the Prostate

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

* Histologically confirmed adenocarcinoma of the prostate

  * Metastatic disease
  * Androgen-independent disease
* Clinically progressive disease documented by at least 1 of the following parameters:

  * Two consecutively rising prostate-specific antigen (PSA) levels taken at least 1 week apart

    * PSA ≥ 5.0 ng/mL
    * Continued rise in PSA 4 weeks after discontinuation of prior flutamide OR 6 weeks after discontinuation of prior bicalutamide or nilutamide (for patients treated with anti-androgen agents)
  * At least 1 new lesion on bone scan
  * Progressive measurable disease
* Must have undergone bilateral surgical castration OR continue on a gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonist
* No brain metastases

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

Age

* 18 and over

Performance status

* ECOG 0-2

Life expectancy

* Not specified

Hematopoietic

* Absolute neutrophil count \> 1,500/mm\^3
* Platelet count ≥ 100,000/mm\^3\*
* Hemoglobin ≥ 7.5 g/dL\* NOTE: \*No transfusions within the past 2 weeks

Hepatic

* AST and ALT \< 2.5 times upper limit of normal (ULN)
* Bilirubin \< ULN (≤ 3.0 times ULN for patients with Gilbert's syndrome)
* Alkaline phosphatase ≤ 2.5 times ULN OR
* Fractionated hepatic alkaline phosphatase ≤ 2.5 times ULN

Renal

* Creatinine ≤ 1.5 mg/dL OR
* Creatinine clearance ≥ 40 mL/min

Cardiovascular

* No transient ischemic attacks or cerebrovascular accident within the past 2 years
* No myocardial infarction within the past 6 months
* No uncontrolled congestive heart failure
* No uncontrolled angina pectoris
* No thromboembolic disease

Other

* No peripheral neuropathy ≥ grade 2
* No cognitive impairment that would preclude study participation or giving informed consent
* No other active malignancy within the past 2 years except non-melanoma skin cancer or superficial bladder carcinoma
* Fertile patients must use effective contraception for at least 1 month before, during, and for at least 1 month after study treatment

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

Biologic therapy

* No prior thalidomide

Chemotherapy

* No prior docetaxel
* No prior estramustine
* No prior chemotherapy for metastatic prostate cancer

Endocrine therapy

* See Disease Characteristics

Radiotherapy

* Recovered from prior radiotherapy

Surgery

* See Disease Characteristics
* Recovered from prior surgery

Other

* No concurrent antiretroviral therapy for HIV-positive patients
* No concurrent complementary or alternative therapy that would interact with study drugs
* No concurrent herbal or nutritional products or dietary supplements that would interact with study drugs
* No concurrent aprepitant as secondary prophylaxis or antiemetic treatment