SU5416 Compared to Dexamethasone in Treating Patients With Progressive Prostate Cancer That Has Not Responded to Hormone Therapy

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

Histologically confirmed prostate cancer not amenable to curative treatment with surgery or radiotherapy

Progressive disease defined by 1 of the following criteria:

New bone scan lesions
New or progressive radiologic lesions
Sequential increases in PSA on at least 2 successive measurements no less than 2 weeks apart of at least 50% above nadir on prior therapy provided absolute value at time of enrollment is at least 5 ng/mL

Progressive disease, as defined above, despite adequate hormonal therapy defined by all of the following:

Continued treatment with an LHRH agonist or prior orchiectomy
Sequential or concurrent treatment with an antiandrogen (e.g., flutamide, nilutamide, or bicalutamide)
Trial of antiandrogen withdrawal at least 4 weeks prior to study

CNS metastasis allowed if:

Previously treated
Neurologically stable
Oral or intravenous steroids or anticonvulsants not required

Brain scan (CT or MRI) within the past 2 weeks shows no active or residual disease

Negative brain scan required if neurologic signs or symptoms suggestive of CNS metastasis

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

Age:

18 and over

Performance status:

WHO 0-1

Life expectancy:

Not specified

Hematopoietic:

WBC at least 3,000/mm^3
Platelet count at least 75,000/mm^3

Hepatic:

Bilirubin no greater than 1.5 mg/dL
Transaminases no greater than 2.5 times upper limit of normal

Renal:

Creatinine no greater than 2.0 mg/dL OR
Creatinine clearance at least 60 mL/min

Cardiovascular:

No uncompensated coronary artery disease
No history of myocardial infarction or severe unstable angina within the past 6 months
No severe peripheral vascular disease associated with diabetes mellitus
No deep venous or arterial thrombosis within the past 3 months

Pulmonary:

No pulmonary embolism within the past 3 months

Other:

Not pregnant
Fertile patients must use effective contraception
No significant uncontrolled underlying medical or psychiatric illness
No serious active infection
No other prior or concurrent malignancy except nonmelanoma skin cancer unless completed therapy and considered to be at less than 30% risk of relapse
No history of severe allergic or anaphylactic reactions to paclitaxel or docetaxel

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

Biologic therapy:

Not specified

Chemotherapy:

No prior systemic chemotherapy
No other concurrent chemotherapy
No other concurrent investigational antineoplastic drugs

Endocrine therapy:

See Disease Characteristics

Radiotherapy:

See Disease Characteristics
At least 4 weeks since prior radiotherapy
No concurrent radiotherapy

Surgery:

See Disease Characteristics
At least 4 weeks since prior major surgery