Neoadjuvant Weekly Ixabepilone for High Risk, Clinically Localized Prostate Cancer

Inclusion Criteria: * Histologic documentation of prostatic adenocarcinoma. Patients with small cell, neuroendocrine or transitional cell carcinomas are not eligible. * All eligible patients must have a known Gleason sum based on biopsy or TURP at the time of registration. * Clinically Localized Disease: Patients must have clinical stage T1-T3a and no radiographic evidence of metastatic disease as demonstrated by: * Either CT or MRI of the abdomen and pelvis, that demonstrate no nodes \> 1 cm: or endorectal MRI(If one or more lymph nodes(s) measures \> 1 cm, a negative biopsy is required.) * Negative bone scan (with plain films and /or MRI and/or CT scan confirmation, if necessary).(Positive PET and Prostascint scans are not considered proof of metastatic disease.) * Patients must have high risk disease defined as either: * Gleason Score 8-10 * PSA \> 15 ng/ml * Stage T3a * Stage T2c and Gleason score of 7 * Stage T2b, Gleason score of 7, greater than 50% of the cores positive from a single lobe. * No prior treatment for prostate cancer including prior surgery (excluding TURP), pelvic lymph node dissection, radiation therapy, chemotherapy or hormone therapy. * Patient must be appropriate candidates for radical prostatectomy with an estimated life expectancy \> 10 years as determined by an urologist. * ECOG PS 0-1 * Age \> 18 years of age. * Required initial laboratory values: * ANC \> 1500/ul * Platelet count \> 100,000/mm3 * Creatinine \< 2.0 mg/dl * Serum PSA \< 100 ng/ml * Bilirubin \< upper institutional limit of normal (ULN) * AST/ALT \< 2.5 X ULN Exclusion Criteria: * Active or uncontrolled infection. * Patients must not have other coexistent medical condition that would preclude protocol therapy. * Previous severe hypersensitivity reaction to a drug formulated in CremophoreL (polyoxyethylated castor oil). * Grade 1 or greater neuropathy (motor or sensory) at study entry