Chemotherapy, Hormone Therapy, and Radiation Therapy in Treating Patients With Locally Advanced Prostate Cancer

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

Histologically confirmed adenocarcinoma of the prostate with one of the following prognostic factors:

Tx N0, baseline prostate specific antigen (PSA) greater than 20 ng/mL, and Gleason score at least 7
T3b-4 N0, any baseline PSA, and any Gleason score
No pelvic lymph node disease requiring pelvic radiotherapy
No metastatic disease by bone scan, CT scan, or MRI

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

Age:

18 and over

Performance status:

ECOG 0-2

Life expectancy:

Not specified

Hematopoietic:

Granulocyte count at least 1,500/mm^3
Platelet count at least 100,000/mm^3

Hepatic:

Bilirubin no greater than 1.5 times upper limit of normal (ULN)
SGOT no greater than 1.5 times ULN

Renal:

Creatinine no greater than 1.5 times ULN

Cardiovascular:

No significant cardiovascular disease
No New York Heart Association class III or IV congestive heart failure
No active angina pectoris
No myocardial infarction within the past 6 months
No history of hemorrhagic or thrombotic cerebral vascular accident
No deep vein thrombosis within the past 6 months

Pulmonary:

No pulmonary embolism within the past 6 months

Other:

Fertile patients must use effective contraception

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

Biologic therapy:

No prior immunotherapy for prostate cancer
No concurrent routine filgrastim (G-CSF) or sargramostim (GM-CSF)

Chemotherapy:

No prior chemotherapy for prostate cancer
No other concurrent anticancer chemotherapy

Endocrine therapy:

No more than 6 weeks of prior androgen deprivation therapy
No other concurrent anticancer hormonal therapy except steroids for adrenal failure and/or hormones for nondisease-related conditions (e.g., insulin for diabetes)

Radiotherapy:

See Disease Characteristics
No prior radiotherapy for prostate cancer
No other concurrent anticancer radiotherapy

Surgery:

At least 4 weeks since prior major surgery

Other:

No prior alternative therapy (e.g., PC-SPES) for prostate cancer
No concurrent alternative medicine (e.g., PC-SPES or saw palmetto) or large quantities of vitamins
No other concurrent anticancer therapy