Connecting Men, Families, Doctors, and other Medical Professionals to Clinical Trials for Prostate Cancer

        DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

          -  Histologically or cytologically confirmed prostate cancer

               -  High-volume metastatic disease meeting any of the following criteria:

                    -  Visceral metastases (extranodal)

                    -  Bone metastases

                         -  At least 4 bone lesions

                         -  At least 1 bone lesion must be outside of the vertebral column or
                            pelvis

          -  On androgen deprivation therapy for < 120 days

               -  Prostate-specific antigen (PSA) level may not have risen > 50% from its lowest
                  point between the start of androgen deprivation therapy and randomization

        PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

          -  ECOG performance status (PS) 0-2

               -  PS 2 eligible only if decline in PS is due to metastatic prostate cancer

          -  Absolute neutrophil count >= 1,500/mm^3

          -  Platelet count >= 100,000/mm^3

          -  Bilirubin <= upper limit of normal (ULN)

          -  ALT <= 2.5 times ULN

          -  Creatinine clearance >= 30 mL/min

          -  PT and INR <= 1.5 times ULN (unless on therapeutic anticoagulation)

          -  PTT <= 1.5 times ULN (unless on therapeutic anticoagulation)

          -  No prior malignancy in the past 5 years except for basal cell or squamous cell
             carcinoma of the skin

               -  Other malignancies that are considered to have low potential to progress (e.g.,
                  grade 2, T1a transitional cell carcinoma) may be allowed if approved by study
                  chair

          -  No peripheral neuropathy > grade 1

          -  No history of severe hypersensitivity reaction to docetaxel or other drugs formulated
             with polysorbate 80

          -  No active cardiac disease, including the following:

               -  Active angina

               -  Symptomatic congestive heart failure

               -  Myocardial infarction within the past 6 months

          -  Fertile patients must use effective contraception

        PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

          -  See Disease Characteristics

          -  At least 4 weeks since prior major surgery and recovered from all toxicity prior to
             randomization

          -  Prior adjuvant or neoadjuvant hormonal therapy allowed provided the following are
             true:

               -  Therapy was discontinued >= 12 months ago AND there is no evidence of disease, as
                  defined by 1 of the following:

                    -  PSA < 0.1 ng/dL after prostatectomy plus hormonal therapy

                    -  PSA < 0.5 ng/dL and has not doubled above nadir after radiotherapy plus
                       hormonal therapy

               -  Therapy lasted no more than 24 months

                    -  Last depot injection must have expired by the 24-month mark

          -  Prior palliative radiotherapy allowed if commenced within 30 days before starting
             androgen deprivation

          -  Anti-androgen therapy allowed as single-agent therapy <= 7 days before medial
             castration to prevent flare

          -  No prior chemotherapy in adjuvant or neoadjuvant setting

          -  No prior hormone therapy in the metastatic setting

          -  More than 30 days (or 6 half-lives) (whichever is longer) since prior participation
             in another clinical trial

          -  Concurrent participation in nontherapeutic trials allowed

          -  Concurrent antiandrogen therapy (e.g., bicalutamide or flutamide) allowed, but not as
             sole hormonal therapy

          -  No concurrent 5-alpha reductase inhibitors