Safety and Efficacy Study of of Docetaxel vs Docetaxel Estramustine in Hormone Refractory Prostatic Cancer

Inclusion Criteria:

* Signed informed consent prior to beginning protocol specific procedures.
* 18 years
* Histologically/cytologically proven prostate adenocarcinoma.
* Documented metastatic prostate adenocarcinoma
* Patients must have received prior hormonal therapy as defined below:
* Castration by orchiectomy and/or LHRH agonists with or without
* Antiandrogens
* Other hormonal agents (e.g., ketoconazole, ...)
* Testosterone level should be \< 50 ng/dl in all patients (castrated level).
* Respect of antiandrogen withdrawal period
* No prior chemotherapy regimen at the exception of estramustine phosphate.
* documented disease progression defined either (i) by PSA increase and/or (ii) imaging:
* Prior radiation therapy (to less or equal than 25% of the bone marrow only) is allowed. At least 4 weeks must have elapsed since the completion of radiation therapy and the patient must have recovered from side effects.
* Prior surgery is allowed. At least 4 weeks must have elapsed since the completion of surgery.
* Life expectancy \> 3 months.
* ECOG performance status 0-2.
* Normal cardiac function.

Exclusion Criteria:

* Prior chemotherapy except estramustine phosphate.(2)
* Prior isotope therapy
* Prior radiotherapy to \>25% of bone marrow
* Prior malignancy except the following: adequately treated basal cell or squamous cell skin cancer, or any other cancer from which the patient has been disease-free for \>5 years.
* Known brain or leptomeningeal involvement.
* Symptomatic peripheral neuropathy \> grade 2
* Other serious illness or medical condition
* Concurrent treatment with other experimental drugs.
* Treatment with any other anti-cancer therapy (except LHRH agonists)
* Treatment with systemic corticosteroids used for reasons other than specified by the protocol must be stopped prior to the administration of docetaxel.