Carbon-11 Acetate and Fludeoxyglucose F 18 PET Scan of the Bone in Patients With Metastatic Prostate Cancer That Has Spread to the Bone

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

* Diagnosis of prostate cancer, meeting 1 of the following criteria:

  * Metastatic hormone-sensitive disease prior to initiation of first-line androgen-deprivation therapy and meets the following criteria:

    * Histologic confirmation of original diagnosis
    * Hormone-sensitive is defined as progressive disease in the absence of androgen-deprivation therapy
    * Presence of ≥ 3 convincing bone metastases, as defined by bone scintigraphy, CT scan (MRI if indicated), or plain x-ray
  * Metastatic hormone-refractory disease prior to initiation of a first-line chemotherapy regimen that includes docetaxel and meets the following criteria:

    * Histologic confirmation of original diagnosis
    * Hormone-refractory is defined as development or advancement of metastatic disease with castrate testosterone levels (total testosterone \< 20 ng/dL)
    * Presence of ≥ 3 convincing bone metastases, as defined by bone scintigraphy, CT scan (MRI if indicated), or plain x-ray
    * Must have castrate testosterone levels (\< 20 ng/dL) from orchiectomy or undergoing maintenance with a luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone agonist

      * Outside the window of a potential antiandrogen withdrawal response (either decline in prostate-specific antigen or objective response by imaging)

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

* Life expectancy \> 12 weeks
* No serious underlying medical condition that would otherwise impair the patient's ability to receive treatment and undergo imaging studies
* No condition that would alter the patient's mental status, prohibiting the basic understanding and/or authorization of informed consent
* Able to lie still for the imaging
* Weight ≤ 300 lbs

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

* See Disease Characteristics
* At least 6 weeks since prior bicalutamide or nilutamide
* At least 4 weeks since prior flutamide, ketoconazole, diethylstilbestrol, or estradiol
* More than 4 weeks since prior bisphosphonate therapy
* More than 4 weeks since prior radiotherapy to the bone
* More than 4 weeks since prior radiopharmaceutical treatment to the bone
* No concurrent radiotherapy