Epoetin Alfa With or Without Dexamethasone in Treating Fatigue and Anemia in Patients With Hormone-Refractory Prostate Cancer

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: * Histologically confirmed prostate cancer * Hormone-refractory disease as evidenced by progression on bone scan or CT scan with a rising prostate-specific antigen * Prior bilateral orchiectomy OR other primary hormonal therapy (e.g., estrogen therapy or luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone analog \[LHRH\] and flutamide) with evidence of treatment failure * Concurrent continual LHRH agonist therapy (e.g., depot leuprolide or goserelin) required for patients who have not undergone bilateral orchiectomy * Must have anemia with hemoglobin ≥ 8 g/dL and \< 12 g/dL within the past 14 days * Must be iron replete (i.e., ferritin \> 50 ng/mL) within the past 30 days * Presence of fatigue with usual fatigue severity ≥ 3 on the 0-10 numerical scale of the Brief Fatigue Inventory within the past 14 days PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: Age * 18 and over Performance status * ECOG 0-3 Life expectancy * Not specified Hematopoietic * See Disease Characteristics * No disseminated intravascular coagulation * No autoimmune hemolytic anemia Hepatic * AST and ALT ≤ 2 times upper limit of normal * No prior hemochromatosis or iron intolerance Renal * Creatinine \< 2.5 mg/dL Cardiovascular * Adequate blood pressure (i.e., systolic blood pressure \< 140 mm Hg and diastolic blood pressure \< 90 mm Hg) (treated or untreated) * No history of thromboembolic events * No unstable angina * No poorly controlled cardiac disease Other * Fertile patients must use effective contraception * Able to read, understand, and answer questions on the symptom and quality of life study instruments * No ongoing chronic hemorrhage (e.g., gross hematuria due to advanced prostate cancer)\* NOTE: \*Microscopic hematuria allowed * No acute or subacute illness that may require transfusion * No gastrointestinal bleeding * No active systemic infection * No known or suspected hypersensitivity to human albumin * No known or suspected hypersensitivity to mammalian cell-derived products * No uncontrolled diabetes PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY: Biologic therapy * More than 30 days since prior epoetin alfa Chemotherapy * More than 21 days since prior chemotherapy * No more than 2 different types of prior chemotherapy regimens for hormone-refractory prostate cancer Endocrine therapy * See Disease Characteristics * More than 30 days since prior corticosteroids for hormone-refractory prostate cancer * Episodic use of low-dose steroids for other causes is allowed Radiotherapy * More than 21 days since prior radiotherapy * Concurrent radiotherapy allowed Surgery * See Disease Characteristics Other * More than 8 weeks since prior blood transfusion * No concurrent oral or intravenous antibiotics