GTI-2040, Docetaxel, and Prednisone in Treating Patients With Prostate Cancer

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

* Diagnosis of 1 of the following:

  * Histologically or cytologically confirmed adenocarcinoma of the prostate
  * Metastatic carcinoma of presumptive prostate origin

    * Bony metastases AND a serum prostate-specific antigen (PSA) level \> 20 ng/mL
* Disease progression after prior hormonal therapy as defined by rising PSA levels

  * At least 2 consecutive rises in PSA over a reference value, with measurements taken at least 7 days apart
  * Prior hormonal therapy must include either medical (luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone \[LHRH\] agonist) OR surgical (orchiectomy) castration

    * Patients who received prior LHRH agonist must continue or re-start such therapy
* Castrate levels of testosterone \< 50 ng/dL
* PSA ≥ 20 ng/mL
* No known brain metastases

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

Age

* 18 and over

Performance status

* ECOG 0-2 OR
* Karnofsky 60-100%

Life expectancy

* More than 3 months

Hematopoietic

* Absolute neutrophil count ≥ 1,500/mm\^3
* Platelet count ≥ 100,000/mm\^3
* WBC ≥ 3,000/mm\^3

Hepatic

* AST and ALT ≤ 1.5 times upper limit of normal (ULN)
* Bilirubin normal
* PTT ≤ 1.25 times upper limit of control
* INR ≤ 1.3

Renal

* Creatinine ≤ 1.5 times ULN OR
* Creatinine clearance ≥ 50 mL/min

Cardiovascular

* No symptomatic congestive heart failure
* No unstable angina pectoris
* No cardiac arrhythmia

Other

* Fertile patients must use effective contraception
* No symptomatic peripheral neuropathy ≥ grade 2
* No history of allergic reaction attributed to compounds of similar chemical or biologic composition to GTI-2040 or other study agents
* No concurrent uncontrolled illness
* No active or ongoing infection
* No psychiatric illness or social situation that would preclude study compliance

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

Biologic therapy

* No concurrent prophylactic filgrastim (G-CSF) or epoetin alfa

Chemotherapy

* No prior chemotherapy except monotherapy with oral estramustine
* At least 4 weeks since prior estramustine and recovered

Endocrine therapy

* See Disease Characteristics
* At least 6 weeks since prior bicalutamide\*
* At least 4 weeks since prior flutamide, nilutamide, or cyproterone\*
* Concurrent steroids allowed NOTE: \*Patients must have evidence of disease progression despite cessation of antiandrogen therapy

Radiotherapy

* At least 4 weeks since prior radiotherapy
* No prior radiotherapy to \> 25% of bone marrow
* No prior isotope therapy

Surgery

* See Disease Characteristics

Other

* No concurrent prophylactic antibiotics
* No concurrent anticoagulants

  * Concurrent low-dose warfarin for prophylaxis of central line thrombosis allowed
* No concurrent combination antiretroviral therapy for HIV-positive patients
* No other concurrent investigational agents or therapies