Lycopene in Treating Patients With Metastatic Prostate Cancer

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: * Diagnosis of androgen-independent prostate cancer * Asymptomatic metastatic disease * Unlikely to become symptomatic within the next 4 months * No bone pain, shortness of breath, fatigue, or urinary symptoms directly attributable to prostate cancer * Radiologic, physically palpable, and/or biochemical evidence of tumor progression after prior orchiectomy OR during treatment with a luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone (LHRH) agonist OR after initiation of another hormonal agent * Sustained prostate-specific antigen (PSA) elevation, defined by the following: * PSA greater than 5 ng/mL * At least 2 consecutive increases in PSA at least 1 week apart * Sustained increase in PSA at least 4 weeks after discontinuation of prior flutamide (or other antiandrogen therapy) or megestrol AND at least 6 weeks after discontinuation of prior bicalutamide * No known CNS metastases or carcinomatous meningitis PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: Age * 18 and over Performance status * ECOG 0-2 Life expectancy * At least 12 weeks Hematopoietic * Not specified Hepatic * Bilirubin no greater than 1.5 mg/dL\* NOTE: \*Includes patients with liver involvement secondary to tumor Renal * See Disease Characteristics * Creatinine no greater than 2 times upper limit of normal Pulmonary * See Disease Characteristics Other * No other malignancy within the past 5 years except basal cell skin cancer * No medical or psychiatric condition that would preclude study participation PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY: Biologic therapy * More than 4 weeks since prior immunotherapy Chemotherapy * More than 4 weeks since prior chemotherapy * No concurrent chemotherapy Endocrine therapy * See Disease Characteristics * More than 4 weeks since prior hormonal therapy (other than an LHRH agonist) * No concurrent corticosteroids * No concurrent progestational agents * No concurrent new hormonal therapy Radiotherapy * No concurrent radiotherapy, including radiotherapy for new bone disease Surgery * See Disease Characteristics Other * More than 4 weeks since other prior anticancer therapy * No other concurrent investigational anticancer agents * No other concurrent alternative medicine therapies (e.g., saw palmetto or PC-SPES)