Hormone Therapy and Radiation Therapy or Hormone Therapy and Radiation Therapy Followed by Docetaxel and Prednisone in Treating Patients With Localized Prostate Cancer

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

Histologically confirmed prostate cancer at high-risk for recurrence within the past 180 days as determined by 1 of the following combinations (risk groups):

Gleason score ≥ 9, prostate-specific antigen (PSA) ≤ 150 ng/mL, and any T stage
Gleason score 8, PSA < 20 ng/mL, and stage ≥ T2
Gleason score 8, PSA 20-150 ng/mL, and any T stage
Gleason score 7, PSA 20-150 ng/mL, and any T stage

Clinically negative lymph nodes by imaging (pelvic CT scan or pelvic MRI), nodal sampling, or dissection within 90 days prior to study entry

Equivocal or questionable lymph nodes ≤ 1.5 cm by imaging allowed
Positive lymph nodes by capromab pendetide (ProstaScint^®) scan with a corresponding lymph node ≤ 1.5 cm by CT scan or MRI allowed

PSA ≤ 150 ng/mL

Cannot have been obtained during any of the following time points:

10-day period after prostate biopsy
After initiation of hormonal therapy
Within 30 days after discontinuation of finasteride
Within 90 days after discontinuation of dutasteride

No distant metastases by physical exam and bone scan

Equivocal bone scan findings allowed if plain films are negative

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

Zubrod performance status 0-1
Platelet count ≥ 100,000/mm^3
Absolute neutrophil count ≥ 1,800/mm^3
Hemoglobin ≥ 8 g/dL (transfusion or other intervention allowed)
Alanine transaminase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) ≤ 1.5 times upper limit of normal (ULN)
Alkaline phosphatase ≤ 2.5 times ULN
Bilirubin ≤ 1.5 times ULN
Fertile patients must use effective contraception during and for at least 3 months after completion of study treatment
No prior invasive malignancy, except nonmelanomatous skin cancer or other malignancy, unless disease-free for ≥ 3 years (e.g., carcinoma in situ of the oral cavity or bladder are allowed)
No unstable angina and/or congestive heart failure requiring hospitalization within the past 6 months
No transmural myocardial infarction within the past 6 months
No acute bacterial or fungal infection requiring intravenous antibiotics
No AIDS
No prior allergic reaction to any study drugs or other drugs formulated with polysorbate 80
No existing peripheral neuropathy ≥ grade 2

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

At least 60 days since prior 5-alpha reductase inhibitor (e.g., finasteride) for prostatic hypertrophy
At least 90 days since prior testosterone
Prior pharmacologic androgen ablation for prostate cancer allowed provided androgen ablation was initiated no more than 50 days prior to study entry
No prior radical prostatectomy, cryosurgery for prostate cancer, or bilateral orchiectomy

No prior systemic chemotherapy for prostate cancer

Prior chemotherapy for a different cancer is allowed
No prior radiotherapy, including brachytherapy, to the region of prostate cancer that would result in overlap of radiotherapy fields
Intensity modulated radiotherapy allowed