Ixabepilone With or Without Estramustine in Treating Patients With Progressive Prostate Cancer

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: * Histologically or cytologically confirmed adenocarcinoma of the prostate * Must have disease progression meeting 1 of the following criteria: * Rising prostate-specific antigen (PSA) on at least 3 consecutive measurements taken more than 1 week apart * Measurable disease, defined as new or progressive soft tissue masses on CT scan or MRI * New metastatic lesions by radionuclide bone scan * The most recent PSA must be at least 4 ng/mL if no measurable disease is present * Ineligible if sole manifestation of progressive disease is an increase in disease-related symptoms * Serum testosterone no greater than 50 ng/mL * One of the following therapies for maintenance of castrate status required: * Must continue on gonadotropin-releasing hormone analogs (e.g., leuprolide or goserelin) to maintain castrate levels of serum testosterone * Developed disease progression after discontinuation of the antiandrogen that was part of the first-line hormonal therapy * Prior surgical orchiectomy * Developed disease progression after discontinuation of megestrol * No known brain metastases PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: Age: * 18 and over Performance status: * Karnofsky 70-100% Life expectancy: * Not specified Hematopoietic: * WBC at least 3,000/mm\^3 * Absolute neutrophil count at least 1,500/mm\^3 * Platelet count at least 100,000/mm\^3 * No history of bleeding disorder that would preclude anticoagulation with warfarin Hepatic: * Bilirubin normal * AST/ALT no greater than 2.5 times upper limit of normal (ULN) * PT/PTT normal (unless anticoagulated for other reasons \[e.g., atrial fibrillation\]) Renal: * Creatinine no greater than 1.5 times ULN Cardiovascular: * No significant cardiovascular disease * No symptomatic congestive heart failure * No New York Heart Association class III or IV heart disease * No active unstable angina pectoris * No cardiac arrhythmia * No myocardial infarction within the past 6 months * No history of hemorrhagic or thrombotic cerebrovascular accident or deep venous thrombosis within the past 6 months Pulmonary: * No pulmonary embolism within the past 6 months Other: * Fertile patients must use effective contraception * No history of allergic reactions to compounds of similar chemical or biological composition to the epothilones * No history of recent gastrointestinal bleeding that would preclude anticoagulation with warfarin * No other concurrent active malignancy except nonmelanomatous skin cancer * Disease not considered currently active if completely treated with less than a 30% risk for relapse * No other concurrent uncontrolled illness * No ongoing or active infection * No psychiatric illness or social situation that would preclude study compliance PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY: Biologic therapy: * No concurrent routine filgrastim (G-CSF) or sargramostim (GM-CSF) except for neutropenic fever * No concurrent immunotherapy Chemotherapy: * No prior chemotherapy * No other concurrent chemotherapy Endocrine therapy: * See Disease Characteristics Radiotherapy: * No prior palliative radiotherapy to more than 25% of bone marrow * No prior radioisotope therapy with strontium chloride Sr 89 or samarium Sm 153 lexidronam pentasodium * No concurrent therapeutic radiotherapy * Concurrent focal radiotherapy for palliation of bone disease-related symptoms allowed at the investigator's discretion Surgery: * See Disease Characteristics * At least 4 weeks since prior major surgery Other: * No other concurrent anticancer investigational or commercial agents or therapies * No concurrent herbal, alternative, or food supplements (e.g., PC-SPES, saw palmetto, or St. John's Wort) * No concurrent combination antiretroviral therapy for HIV-positive patients * No initiation of bisphosphonates immediately before or during study * Concurrent bisphosphonates allowed if developed disease progression while on stable doses * Concurrent daily multivitamin allowed