Low, Intermediate, or High Dose Suramin in Treating Patients With Hormone-Refractory Prostate Cancer

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: * Histologically proven adenocarcinoma of the prostate with progressive metastatic or progressive regional nodal disease * PSA evidence of progression defined as at least 50% increase over baseline on at least 2 measurements at least 2 weeks apart * Measurable disease preferred but not required * Bone scan abnormalities acceptable provided PSA at least 10 ng/mL * No minimum PSA value required if measurable disease present * Progression after or during an adequate trial of hormonal therapy * No more than 3 prior hormonal interventions for progressive disease * One prior hormonal intervention is defined by any of the following: * Concurrent testicular and adrenal androgen ablation (e.g., leuprolide, goserelin, orchiectomy, or diethylstilbestrol (DES) plus flutamide, bicalutamide, nilutamide, megestrol, or other antiandrogen) * Initial LHRH agonist followed by orchiectomy provided no progression prior to orchiectomy * Prior intermittent androgen deprivation on protocol SWOG-9346 * Corticosteroids for metastatic disease or in conjunction with aminoglutethimide or ketoconazole * Two prior hormonal interventions are defined by the following: * Antiandrogen given for disease progression more than 3 months after initial hormonal therapy * Prior neoadjuvant or adjuvant deprivation for treatment of nonmetastatic disease not considered a prior hormonal intervention * Antiandrogen withdrawal not considered a separate hormonal intervention * At least 4 weeks since antiandrogen withdrawal or megestrol withdrawal * Failure to respond to (i.e., no decrease in PSA at 2 and 4 weeks) or progression after a transient response to antiandrogen withdrawal or megestrol withdrawal required * Primary testicular androgen suppression (e.g., LHRH agonist or DES) continues during study * No brain metastases or other CNS disease PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: Age: * 18 and over Performance status: * CALGB 0-2 OR * Zubrod 0-2 Life expectancy: * At least 3 months Hematopoietic: * WBC at least 3,000/mm3 * Absolute neutrophil count at least 1,200/mm3 * Platelet count at least 100,000/mm3 * Hemoglobin at least 9 g/dL * Fibrinogen at least 200 mg/dL * No prior hemorrhagic or thrombotic disorders Hepatic: * Bilirubin normal * AST/ALT no greater than 2.5 times normal * Prothrombin time, partial thromboplastin time, and thrombin time normal Renal: * Creatinine clearance at least 70 mL/min Other: * No primary muscle disease * No active, uncontrolled bacterial, viral, or fungal infection * No grade 1 or worse peripheral neuropathy * No underlying medical condition that would preclude study * No other serious medical illness that limits survival to less than 3 months * No psychiatric condition that would preclude informed consent * No other malignancy within the past 5 years except inactive nonmelanomatous skin cancer or adequately treated stage I or II cancer in remission PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY: Biologic therapy: * No prior immunotherapy for metastatic disease Chemotherapy: * No prior chemotherapy (including estramustine) for metastatic disease Endocrine therapy: * No concurrent megestrol or other hormonal agents * No concurrent systemic or inhaled corticosteroids (intranasal and topical steroids allowed) Radiotherapy: * At least 4 weeks since prior radiotherapy (8 weeks for strontium therapy) Other: * No prior experimental therapy for metastatic disease * No concurrent heparin, warfarin, or aspirin