Antineoplaston Therapy in Treating Patients With Refractory Stage IV Prostate Cancer

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

Histologically confirmed incurable stage IV adenocarcinoma of the prostate that failed to respond to treatment with antineoplaston A10 and AS2-1 capsules and for which no curative therapy exists

Evidence of tumor by MRI or CT scan
No prostate-specific antigen (PSA) response to antiandrogen withdrawal
If PSA changes used to indicate progressive disease, then PSA must increase more than 50% on two determinations at least 2 weeks apart

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

Age:

18 and over

Performance status:

Karnofsky 60-100%

Life expectancy:

At least 2 months

Hematopoietic:

Hemoglobin at least 9 g/dL
WBC at least 2000/mm^3
Platelet count at least 50,000/mm^3

Hepatic:

No hepatic insufficiency
Bilirubin no greater than 2.5 mg/dL
SGOT and SGPT no greater than 5 times upper limit of normal

Renal:

Creatinine no greater than 2.5 mg/dL
No history of renal conditions that contraindicate high dosages of sodium

Cardiovascular:

No known chronic heart failure
No uncontrolled hypertension
No history of congestive heart failure
No history of other cardiovascular conditions that contraindicate high dosages of sodium

Pulmonary:

No serious lung disease, such as severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

Other:

Fertile patients must use effective contraception during and for 4 weeks after study participation
Not a high medical or psychiatric risk
No concurrent nonmalignant systemic disease that would preclude therapy
No active infection

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

Biologic therapy:

At least 4 weeks since prior immunotherapy and recovered

Chemotherapy:

At least 4 weeks since prior chemotherapy and recovered

Endocrine therapy:

See Disease Characteristics
At least 4 weeks since prior hormonal therapy and recovered
Concurrent corticosteroids allowed if dose is stable or decreasing

Radiotherapy:

At least 4 weeks since prior radiotherapy and recovered

Surgery:

Recovered from prior surgery

Other:

Prior cytodifferentiating agents allowed