Vaccine Therapy in Treating Patients With Stage D0 Prostate Cancer

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

* Histopathological documentation of prostate cancer

  * If no pathologic specimen is available, patients may enroll on study with a pathologist's report showing a histologic diagnosis of prostate cancer and a clinical course consistent with the disease
* Biochemical progression, as defined by the following:

  * A rise in PSA of ≥ 2 ng/mL above the nadir (for patients previously treated with definitive radiotherapy or cryotherapy)
  * Two consecutive rises in PSA \> 0.3 ng/mL (for patients previously treated with radical prostatectomy)
* PSA ≤ 20 ng/mL
* Testosterone ≥ lower limit of normal
* Negative CT scan and bone scan for metastatic prostate cancer
* No clinically active brain metastases

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

* ECOG performance status of 0-1
* Life expectancy ≥ 6 months
* Granulocyte count ≥ 1,500/mm³
* Platelet count ≥ 100,000/mm³
* Hemoglobin ≥ 10 g/dL
* Bilirubin ≤ 1.5 mg/dL OR total bilirubin ≤ 3.0 mg/dL (in patients with Gilbert's syndrome)
* AST and ALT ≤ 2.5 times upper limit of normal
* No other active malignancies within the past 60 months (with the exception of nonmelanoma skin cancer or carcinoma in situ of the bladder)
* No life-threatening illnesses
* No immunocompromised status due to any of the following:

  * HIV positivity
  * Active autoimmune diseases, such as Addison's disease, Hashimoto's thyroiditis, systemic lupus erythematosus, Sjögren syndrome, scleroderma, myasthenia gravis, Goodpasture syndrome, or active Grave's disease

    * Patients with a history of autoimmunity that has not required systemic immunosuppressive therapy or does not threaten vital organ function, including CNS, heart, lungs, kidneys, skin, or gastrointestinal tract, will be allowed
  * Other immunodeficiency diseases or iatrogenic immunodeficiency from drugs
* No other serious medical illness that would interfere with the patient's ability to carry out the treatment program
* No documented contraindication (allergy or severe reaction to BCG)

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

* See Disease Characteristics
* Recovered from all prior therapy, including surgery and radiotherapy (no toxicity ≥ grade 2)
* No prior chemotherapy
* No concurrent topical steroids (including steroid eye drops) or systemic steroids

  * Nasal or inhaled steroid use is permitted
* No concurrent medications used for urinary symptoms, including 5-alpha reductase inhibitors (finasteride and dutasteride)
* No concurrent alternative medications known to alter PSA (e.g., phytoestrogens or saw palmetto)
* No other concurrent hormonal therapy
* No other concurrent anticancer treatment, including chemotherapy, systemic glucocorticoids, radiotherapy, major surgical procedures for prostate cancer, or nonprotocol-related immunotherapy