MEN-10755 in Treating Patients With Progressive Prostate Cancer That Has Not Responded to Hormone Therapy

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: * Histologically confirmed hormone-refractory adenocarcinoma of the prostate * Disease progression while on prior luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone (LHRH) analogues or after orchiectomy and antiandrogens, given concurrently or consecutively * Disease progression is defined as PSA progression documented by increases in PSA recorded at 2 consecutive measurements over a prior reference value * Interval of at least 1 week between the reference value and the first of these two PSA increases * Continued elevation of PSA for at least 6 weeks after discontinuation of antiandrogens * Last PSA value at least 5 ng/mL (Hybritech equivalent) * Must have serum testosterone less than 50 ng/mL and must continue on LHRH agonist therapy if no prior surgical castration * No symptomatic brain or leptomeningeal metastatic disease PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: Age: * Over 18 Performance status: * ECOG 0-2 Life expectancy: * Not specified Hematopoietic: * Neutrophil count at least 1,500/mm\^3 * Platelet count at least 100,000/mm\^3 Hepatic: * Bilirubin less than 1.5 times upper limit of normal (ULN) * ALT/AST no greater than 2.5 times ULN (5 times ULN if liver metastases present) Renal: * Creatinine no greater than 1.7 mg/dL * No uncontrolled hypercalcemia Cardiovascular: * No history of severe heart disease * No myocardial infarction within the past 6 months * No cardiac insufficiency * Normal cardiac function by MUGA scan and 12-lead EKG Other: * No other prior or concurrent malignancy except basal cell or squamous cell skin cancer * No uncontrolled systemic nonmalignant disease or infection * No psychological, familial, or geographical conditions that would preclude compliance PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY: Biologic therapy: * Not specified Chemotherapy: * At least 4 weeks since prior chemotherapy Endocrine therapy: * See Disease Characteristics * No prior hormonal therapy except estramustine * No concurrent estramustine Radiotherapy: * At least 4 weeks since prior radiotherapy * No concurrent radiotherapy (e.g., for painful bone metastases) Surgery: * See Disease Characteristics Other: * No other concurrent experimental drugs or investigational therapy