Paclitaxel Poliglumex and Estradiol in Treating Patients With Stage IV Prostate Cancer

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

* Histologically confirmed adenocarcinoma of the prostate

  * Stage IV disease

    * Radiographic evidence of regional or distant metastases
* Evidence of disease progression (by PSA and/or imaging studies) despite standard hormonal therapy and after exposure to docetaxel-containing chemotherapy, as evidenced by any of the following:

  * Measurable or evaluable disease progression, defined as the appearance of new lesion(s) or unequivocal increase in previously existing lesions or masses
  * Disease progression by PSA\*, defined by 1 of the following:

    * 3 consecutively rising PSA with the second PSA taken ≥ 1 week after the first PSA
    * 2 consecutively rising PSA with a fourth PSA \> the second PSA NOTE: \*The last required PSA must be after the required antiandrogen washout period for patients who have been on antiandrogen therapy
* Must have received prior therapy with at least two 3-weekly doses or six weekly doses of docetaxel

  * Patients may have discontinued therapy due to progression, intolerance, completion of planned therapy, or other reasons
  * Prior treatment with combinations of docetaxel with estramustine phosphate sodium or noncytotoxic agents (biologic agents) allowed
* Serum testosterone \< 50 ng/dL (unless surgically castrate)

  * Patients must continue androgen deprivation with a luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone agonist if they have not undergone orchiectomy
* No known or suspected brain metastases

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

* ECOG performance status 0-2
* Life expectancy \> 3 months
* Absolute neutrophil count ≥ 1,500/mm³
* Platelet count ≥ 100,000/mm³
* Creatinine ≤ 1.5 times upper limit of normal (ULN)
* Bilirubin ≤ 1.5 times ULN
* AST and ALT ≤ 2.5 times ULN
* No other active malignancy except adequately treated nonmelanoma skin cancer or other noninvasive or in situ neoplasm
* No other significant active medical illness or infection that would preclude study compliance
* No significant cardiovascular illness, including any of the following:

  * NYHA class III or IV congestive heart failure
  * Unstable angina
  * Myocardial infarction within the past 6 months
  * Acute deep venous thrombosis
  * Acute pulmonary embolism
* No significant peripheral neuropathy ≥ grade 2

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

* See Disease Characteristics
* At least 6 weeks since prior antiandrogen therapy (4 weeks for flutamide)

  * No current evidence of an antiandrogen withdrawal response
* More than 4 weeks since prior radiotherapy
* More than 8 weeks since prior radiopharmaceutical therapy (strontium chloride Sr 89, samarium Sm 153 lexidronam pentasodium)
* No prior paclitaxel
* No other concurrent cytotoxic agents
* No other concurrent chemotherapy or biologic response modifiers
* No concurrent supplements known or suspected to contain supplemental estrogens