Vaccine Therapy in Treating Patients With Non-Metastatic Prostate Cancer

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

Histologically confirmed adenocarcinoma of the prostate

Biochemically progressive disease defined by two serial PSA measurements obtained ≥ 1 week apart during ongoing optimal androgen-deprivation therapy (e.g., orchiectomy, luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone [LHRH] agonist, or another equivalent hormonal agent)

Concurrent LHRH agonist or high-dose bicalutamide required (unless patient has undergone prior orchiectomy)
Has undergone prior standard primary therapy for prostate cancer (e.g., radical prostatectomy, radiotherapy, or an equivalent initial treatment directed towards localized prostate cancer)
PSA 2.0-100.0 ng/mL
Serum testosterone < 50 ng/dL (unless undergoing antiandrogen monotherapy)
No concurrent evidence of radiological or new clinically palpable metastatic cancer

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

ECOG performance status 0-1
Life expectancy ≥ 12 weeks
WBC ≥ 3,500/µL
Platelet count ≥ 100,000/µL
Hemoglobin ≥ 10.0 g/dL
Creatinine ≤ 2.0 mg/dL
Alkaline phosphatase ≤ 2.5 times upper limit of normal (ULN)
AST ≤ 2.5 times ULN
Fertile patients must use effective contraception
Willing to provide blood samples for research purposes
Able to complete questionnaire(s) alone or with assistance
Able to undergo leukapheresis
No known immunodeficiency
No other malignancy within the past 5 years except basal cell or squamous cell carcinoma of the skin treated with local resection only
No concurrent serious illness
No known history of positive PPD skin test

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

See Disease Characteristics
Recovered from prior therapy

More than 1 month since prior and no concurrent corticosteroids or other immunosuppressive agents

Inhaled corticosteroids allowed
More than 1 month since prior and no concurrent estrogens and/or ketoconazole
More than 3 months since prior and no other concurrent investigational medicinal products
More than 4 weeks since prior and no concurrent secondary hormonal maneuver with or without a peripheral antiandrogen (e.g., bicalutamide), PC-SPES, or any other herbal medicines used to treat prostate cancer
No prior prostate cancer vaccine
No other therapy for prostate cancer (e.g., chemotherapy, immunotherapy, radiotherapy, or new hormonal therapy) during and for 4 months after completion of study therapy
No other concurrent standard therapy that is potentially curative or proven capable of extending life expectancy