Docetaxel and Prednisolone With or Without Zoledronic Acid and/or Strontium Chloride Sr 89 in Treating Patients With Prostate Cancer Metastatic to Bone That Has Not Responded to Hormone Therapy

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

* Diagnosis of 1 of the following:

  * Histologically or cytologically proven prostate adenocarcinoma
  * Multiple sclerotic bone metastases with PSA ≥ 100 ng/mL without histological confirmation
* Radiological evidence of bone metastasis
* Prior hormonal therapy for prostate cancer including ≥ 1 of the following:

  * Bilateral orchidectomy
  * Medical castration by luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone (LHRH) agonist therapy

    * If receiving LHRH agonist therapy alone, this therapy should be continued
* Documented disease progression, defined by one of the following:

  * Progressive disease after discontinuing hormone therapy
  * Elevated and rising PSA, defined as 2 consecutive increases in PSA documented over a previous reference value
  * PSA \> 5ng/mL
  * Progression of any unidimensionally or bidimensionally measurable malignant lesion
  * At least 1 new lesion identified on bone scan
* No known brain or leptomeningeal metastases

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

* ECOG performance status 0-2
* Life expectancy ≥ 3 months
* Hemoglobin ≥ 10g/dL
* ANC ≥ 1,500/mm³
* Platelet count ≥ 100,000/mm³
* Creatinine ≤ 1.5 times upper limit of normal (ULN)
* ALT and AST ≤ 1.5 times ULN (unless related to hepatic metastatic disease, where patients may be entered after discussion with one of the clinical advisors)
* Serum bilirubin ≤ 1.5 times ULN
* Physically fit enough to receive trial treatment
* No malignant disease within the past 5 years, other than adequately treated basal cell carcinoma
* No symptomatic peripheral neuropathy ≥ grade 2 (NCI CTC)
* No known hypersensitivity to bisphosphonates
* No condition, in the opinion of the investigator, that may interfere with the safety of the patient or evaluation of the study objectives

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

* See Disease Characteristics
* At least 4 weeks since prior flutamide, nilutamide, or cyproterone acetate with evidence of disease progression since cessation
* At least 6 weeks since prior bicalutamide with evidence of disease progression since cessation
* At least 4 weeks since prior estramustine and any adverse events must have resolved
* At least 2 months since prior treatment with a bisphosphonate for any reason
* No treatment with any other investigational compound within the past 30 days
* No prior cytotoxic chemotherapy for hormone refractory prostate cancer (HRPC), other than estramustine monotherapy
* No prior radionuclide therapy for HRPC
* No prior radiotherapy to more than 25% of the bone marrow or whole pelvic irradiation
* No concurrent enrollment in any other investigational clinical trial