DHA-Paclitaxel in Treating Patients With Metastatic Prostate Cancer

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

Histologically or cytologically confirmed adenocarcinoma of the prostate

Progressive metastatic disease on continuous hormonal therapy (e.g., orchiectomy or luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone (LHRH) agonist)

Progressive disease is defined by all of the following:

Measurable disease or lesions on bone scan
Increases in prostate-specific antigen (PSA) levels on at least 2 consecutive measurements
Continued PSA elevation after cessation of prior antiandrogen therapy (4 weeks after flutamide and nilutamide and 8 weeks after bicalutamide)
PSA level at least 5 ng/mL

Serum testosterone level less than 50 ng/mL

Patients who have not undergone prior surgical castration should continue primary androgen suppression (LHRH agonist)
No known or clinical evidence of CNS metastasis

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

Age:

18 and over

Performance status:

ECOG 0-1

Life expectancy:

Not specified

Hematopoietic:

Absolute neutrophil 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 or SGPT no greater than 2.5 times ULN

Renal:

Creatinine no greater than 1.5 times ULN

Cardiovascular:

No uncontrolled ventricular arrhythmia
No myocardial infarction within the past 3 months
No superior vena cava syndrome

Neurologic:

No peripheral neuropathy greater than grade 1
No uncontrolled major seizure disorder
No spinal cord compression

Other:

No psychiatric disorder that would preclude informed consent
No unstable or serious concurrent medical condition
No concurrent serious infection requiring parenteral therapy

No other prior or concurrent malignancy except:

Curatively treated nonmelanoma skin cancer OR
Other cancer curatively treated with surgery alone that has not recurred for more than 5 years
Fertile patients must use effective contraception during and for at least 6 months after study therapy

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

Biologic therapy:

No concurrent immunotherapy

Chemotherapy:

No prior taxanes
Prior mitoxantrone or prednisone for metastatic disease allowed
At least 28 days since prior chemotherapy and recovered
No other concurrent chemotherapy

Endocrine therapy:

See Disease Characteristics
No concurrent hormonal therapy

Radiotherapy:

No prior samarium SM 153 lexidronam pentasodium or strontium chloride Sr 89
Prior external radiotherapy for metastatic disease allowed
At least 28 days since prior large-field radiotherapy and recovered
No concurrent radiotherapy, including whole-brain radiotherapy for documented CNS metastasis

Surgery:

See Disease Characteristics
At least 14 days since prior major surgery and recovered

Other:

No other prior nonhormonal treatment for metastatic disease
At least 28 days since prior herbal preparations (e.g., PC-SPES) and recovered
No other concurrent anticancer medications