Hormone Therapy and Radiation Therapy or Hormone Therapy and Radiation Therapy Followed by Docetaxel and Prednisone in Treating Patients With Localized Prostate Cancer

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

* Histologically confirmed prostate cancer at high-risk for recurrence within the past 180 days as determined by 1 of the following combinations (risk groups):

  * Gleason score ≥ 9, prostate-specific antigen (PSA) ≤ 150 ng/mL, and any T stage
  * Gleason score 8, PSA \< 20 ng/mL, and stage ≥ T2
  * Gleason score 8, PSA 20-150 ng/mL, and any T stage
  * Gleason score 7, PSA 20-150 ng/mL, and any T stage
* Clinically negative lymph nodes by imaging (pelvic CT scan or pelvic MRI), nodal sampling, or dissection within 90 days prior to study entry

  * Equivocal or questionable lymph nodes ≤ 1.5 cm by imaging allowed
  * Positive lymph nodes by capromab pendetide (ProstaScint\^®) scan with a corresponding lymph node ≤ 1.5 cm by CT scan or MRI allowed
* PSA ≤ 150 ng/mL

  * Cannot have been obtained during any of the following time points:

    * 10-day period after prostate biopsy
    * After initiation of hormonal therapy
    * Within 30 days after discontinuation of finasteride
    * Within 90 days after discontinuation of dutasteride
* No distant metastases by physical exam and bone scan

  * Equivocal bone scan findings allowed if plain films are negative

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

* Zubrod performance status 0-1
* Platelet count ≥ 100,000/mm\^3
* Absolute neutrophil count ≥ 1,800/mm\^3
* Hemoglobin ≥ 8 g/dL (transfusion or other intervention allowed)
* Alanine transaminase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) ≤ 1.5 times upper limit of normal (ULN)
* Alkaline phosphatase ≤ 2.5 times ULN
* Bilirubin ≤ 1.5 times ULN
* Fertile patients must use effective contraception during and for at least 3 months after completion of study treatment
* No prior invasive malignancy, except nonmelanomatous skin cancer or other malignancy, unless disease-free for ≥ 3 years (e.g., carcinoma in situ of the oral cavity or bladder are allowed)
* No unstable angina and/or congestive heart failure requiring hospitalization within the past 6 months
* No transmural myocardial infarction within the past 6 months
* No acute bacterial or fungal infection requiring intravenous antibiotics
* No AIDS
* No prior allergic reaction to any study drugs or other drugs formulated with polysorbate 80
* No existing peripheral neuropathy ≥ grade 2

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

* At least 60 days since prior 5-alpha reductase inhibitor (e.g., finasteride) for prostatic hypertrophy
* At least 90 days since prior testosterone
* Prior pharmacologic androgen ablation for prostate cancer allowed provided androgen ablation was initiated no more than 50 days prior to study entry
* No prior radical prostatectomy, cryosurgery for prostate cancer, or bilateral orchiectomy
* No prior systemic chemotherapy for prostate cancer

  * Prior chemotherapy for a different cancer is allowed
* No prior radiotherapy, including brachytherapy, to the region of prostate cancer that would result in overlap of radiotherapy fields
* Intensity modulated radiotherapy allowed