GM-CSF Before Surgery in Treating Patients With Localized Prostate Cancer

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

Histologically or cytologically confirmed adenocarcinoma of the prostate

No neuroendocrine or small cell features
No evidence of metastatic disease
Planning radical prostatectomy at least 2 months from now
Testosterone level normal

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

ECOG performance status (PS) 0-1 or Karnofsky PS 70-100%
Absolute neutrophil count ≥ 1,500/mm^3
Platelet count ≥ 100,000/mm^3
Hemoglobin ≥ 8 g/dL
AST and ALT ≤ 1.5 times upper limit of normal (ULN)
Bilirubin ≤ 1.5 times ULN
Creatinine ≤ 1.5 times ULN
PT and PTT normal
Fertile patients must use effective barrier contraception
No history of allergic reaction to compounds of similar chemical or biologic composition to sargramostim (GM-CSF)
No ongoing or active bacterial, viral, or fungal infection
DLCO > 50% if patient has a history of clinically significant obstructive airway disease
No symptomatic congestive heart failure
No unstable angina pectoris
No cardiac arrhythmia
No other active malignancy, defined as cancer for which therapy has been completed and patient is now considered < 30% risk of relapse, except nonmelanoma skin cancer
No psychiatric illness or social situation that would preclude study compliance
No other uncontrolled illness
No underlying medical condition that, in the opinion of the principal investigator, may make the administration of GM-CSF hazardous or obscure the interpretation of adverse events

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

More than 4 weeks since prior major surgery
No prior radiotherapy, immunotherapy, chemotherapy, or other investigational therapy for this cancer

No prior hormonal therapy including any of the following:

Luteinizing-hormone releasing hormone (LHRH) agonists
LHRH antagonists

Antiandrogens, including any of the following:

Bilcalutamide
Flutamide
Nilutamide
5-alpha-reductase inhibitors
PC-SPES or other PC-x product
Estrogen-containing nutriceuticals
No concurrent chemotherapy or radiotherapy

No concurrent systemic steroid therapy

Concurrent inhaled or topical steroids allowed
No other concurrent immunotherapy
No other concurrent investigational agent
No other concurrent anticancer agents or therapies