R-Flurbiprofen in Treating Patients With Localized Prostate Cancer at Risk of Recurrence

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: * Histologically confirmed localized adenocarcinoma of the prostate (from a pre-operative core biopsy, surgical specimen, or post-therapy core biopsy) * Gleason score 5-10 at diagnosis (the highest score is used if multiple scores are available) * Must have undergone 1 of the following curative treatment strategies: * Radical prostatectomy * Not a candidate for radiotherapy * Radical prostatectomy followed by radiotherapy at the time of surgery or any time thereafter * Radiotherapy of the prostate and/or surrounding structures by external beam radiotherapy (EBRT), brachytherapy (BT), or a combination of EBRT and BT * Must have 3 consecutive rising prostate-specific antigen (PSA) measurements OR meets slope criteria * Biochemical failure, meeting 1 of the following criteria: * PSA at least 0.2 ng/mL post radical prostatectomy * PSA greater than 1.5 ng/mL after radiotherapy or appropriate calculated slope * Testosterone at least 100 ng/mL * No rise in PSA with concurrent clinically active prostatitis * No metastatic prostate cancer * PSA no greater than 20.0 ng/mL PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: Age * 18 and over Performance status * Karnofsky 70-100% Life expectancy * Not specified Hematopoietic * WBC at least 2,500/mm\^3 * Platelet count at least 100,000/mm\^3 * Hemoglobin at least 10 g/dL Hepatic * Bilirubin no greater than 1.5 mg/dL * AST or ALT no greater than 2 times upper limit of normal Renal * Creatinine no greater than 2.0 mg/dL Cardiovascular * No uncontrolled cardiac conditions * No New York Heart Association class III or IV heart disease Gastrointestinal * No active ulcer disease diagnosed within the past 3 months * No upper gastrointestinal bleed requiring a transfusion within the past 3 years * No non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID)-associated ulcers within the past 5 years Other * No known hypersensitivity to NSAIDs, including COX-2-specific inhibitors (e.g., celecoxib or rofecoxib) * No other malignancy within the past 5 years except basal cell or squamous cell skin cancer * No active systemic infections * No other serious uncontrolled medical condition * No dementia or altered mental status PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY: Biologic therapy * No concurrent biologic therapy Chemotherapy * More than 5 years since prior cytotoxic chemotherapy for other malignant disease * No prior cytotoxic chemotherapy for prostate cancer * No concurrent chemotherapy Endocrine therapy * More than 9 months since prior androgen-deprivation therapy other than as cytoreductive therapy (neoadjuvantly or adjuvantly for less than 9 months) with the intent to cure * More than 3 months since prior cyproterone, finasteride, diethylstilbestrol, megestrol, or other hormonally active (antiandrogen or antiprostate) therapies Radiotherapy * See Disease Characteristics * No prior strontium chloride Sr 89, samarium Sm 153 lexidronam pentasodium, or other radioisotope materials for palliative intent or metastasis intervention * Concurrent iodine I 125 or palladium Pd 103 for primary brachytherapy with curative intent allowed Surgery * See Disease Characteristics * More than 8 weeks since prior major surgery and recovered * No prior orchiectomy Other * More than 1 month since prior PC-SPES * More than 1 month since prior investigational agents or devices (6 months for other investigational therapy for prostate cancer) * No prior bisphosphonates (e.g., pamidronate, alendronate, or clodronate) for palliative intent or metastasis intervention * At least 2 months since prior chronic non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), including cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2)-specific inhibitors (e.g., celecoxib or rofecoxib), administered for more than 7 days per month * No concurrent CYP2C9 inhibitor or substrates, including but not limited to the following: * Phenytoin * Fluvastatin * Amiodarone * Fluconazole * Acenocoumarol * Diclofenac * No concurrent ketoconazole * No concurrent antiretroviral therapy for HIV-positive patients * Concurrent cardioprotective aspirin up to 100 mg once daily allowed