Ipilimumab in Combination With Androgen Suppression Therapy in Treating Patients With Metastatic Hormone-Resistant Prostate Cancer

Inclusion Criteria:

Willing and able to give written informed consent
Histologic diagnosis of adenocarcinoma of the prostate
A PSA of > 0.2 ng/ml after 6-18 months of androgen suppression therapy, which may consist of luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone (LHRH) agonist or antagonist alone or the combination of an LHRH agonist or antagonist plus an antiandrogen, such as bicalutamide; androgen suppression therapy will continue without interruption
Radiographic evidence of regional or distant metastasis at the time of study enrollment or at the time of diagnosis
White blood cell (WBC) >= 2000/uL
Absolute neutrophil count (ANC) >= 1000/uL
Platelets >= 50 x 10^3/uL
Hemoglobin >= 8 g/dL
Creatinine =< 3.0 x upper limit of normal (ULN)
Aspartate aminotransferase (AST)/alanine aminotransferase (ALT) =< 2.5 x ULN for patients without liver metastasis
Bilirubin =< 3.0 x ULN, (except patients with Gilbert's syndrome, who must have a total bilirubin less than 3.0 mg/dL)
No known active or chronic infection with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), hepatitis B, or hepatitis C; patients should be assessed for high risk behaviors that may result in these infections, such as intravenous drug use or multiple sexual partners; the assessment should be noted
Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) =< 1
Patients receiving any herbal product known to decrease PSA levels (i.e. saw palmetto and prostate cancer [PC]-SPES), or any immunosuppressive dose of systemic or absorbable topical corticosteroid (except prednisone up to 10 mg orally per [q] day, or its equivalent), must discontinue the agent for at least 2 weeks prior to screening; progressive disease must be documented after discontinuation of these products
Patients receiving bisphosphonate therapy must have been on stable doses for at least 4 weeks with stable symptoms prior to the first infusion with ipilimumab
Total testosterone < 50 ng/ml, except in patients with prior orchiectomy, where testosterone does not need to be measured; patients must continue their LHRH agonist therapy throughout study duration
Life expectancy >= 6 months; this must be documented
Patients who are sexually active with a partner who could become pregnant are to use an effective form of barrier contraception, such as condoms or a partner using oral contraceptive pills; persons of reproductive potential must agree to use an adequate method of contraception throughout treatment and for at least 8 weeks after ipilimumab is stopped
If a patient enters the trial on androgen suppression therapy (AST) that consists of both an LHRH agonist and an oral antiandrogen, both agents should be continued throughout the study; if an antiandrogen is stopped prior to study entry, it should be stopped 4 weeks before for nilutamide and flutamide and 6 weeks before for bicalutamide to ensure that a withdrawal phenomenon does not interfere with interpretation of efficacy results

Exclusion Criteria:

Radiation to any area of the body < 28 days prior to randomization
Any other active malignancy with the exception of adequately treated basal or squamous cell skin cancer or superficial bladder cancer
Autoimmune disease: patients with a history of inflammatory bowel disease are excluded from this study, as are patients with a history of symptomatic disease (eg, rheumatoid arthritis, systemic progressive sclerosis [scleroderma], systemic lupus erythematosus, autoimmune vasculitis [eg, Wegener's granulomatosis]); motor neuropathy considered of autoimmune origin (e.g. myasthenia gravis, Guillain-Barre syndrome); those with immune-mediated skin toxicity (i.e. toxic epidermal necrolysis, Stevens-Johnson syndrome) will also be excluded
Any underlying medical or psychiatric condition, which in the opinion of the investigator will make the administration of ipilimumab hazardous or obscure the interpretation of adverse events (AEs), such as a condition associated with frequent diarrhea
Any non-oncology vaccine therapy used for prevention of infectious diseases (for up to 1 month before or after any dose of ipilimumab)
A history of prior treatment with ipilimumab or prior cluster of differentiation (CD)137 agonist or cytotoxic T-lymphocyte-associated protein 4 (CTLA-4) inhibitor or agonist
Concomitant therapy with any of the following: interleukin (IL)-2, interferon, or other non-study immunotherapy regimens; cytotoxic chemotherapy; immunosuppressive agents (over the counter [OTC]/herbal/prescribed); immunostimulant agents, other than the study agent; other investigational therapies; or chronic use of systemic corticosteroids (greater than prednisone 10 mg orally per day, or its equivalent)
Prisoners or patients who are compulsorily detained (involuntarily incarcerated) for treatment of either a psychiatric or physical (i.e., infectious) illness