DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:
- Histologically confirmed prostate cancer
- Stage D0 (stage IV) disease (i.e., tumor limited to the prostate with rising
prostate-specific antigen [PSA] value after definitive local therapy)
- No metastases (confirmed by bone scan and CT scan of abdomen/pelvis)
- Must have undergone local treatment via prostatectomy or radiotherapy and have shown
PSA progression
- After surgery, PSA values > 0.2 ng/mL, determined by two measurements at least 1
month apart and at least 6 months after prostatectomy
- After radiotherapy, PSA values >= 2.0 ng/mL greater than the nadir achieved after
radiotherapy, determined by two measurements at 1 month apart and at least 6
months after the radiotherapy
- The first two PSA values, along with a third (study baseline) value must all be
rising (i.e., there must be an overall rising trajectory, such that the third
value cannot be lower than the first value)
PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:
- ECOG performance status 0-2
- Life expectancy >= 6 months
- WBC > 3,500/mm³
- ANC > 1,500/mm³
- Hemoglobin > 10 g/dL
- Platelet count > 100,000/mm³
- Serum creatinine < 1.5 mg/dL OR creatinine clearance > 50 mL/min
- Total bilirubin normal
- ALT and AST < 2.5 times upper limit of normal
- No evidence of retinopathy by ophthalmic exam within the past 12 months
- No serious concurrent systemic disorder that would compromise the safety of the
patient or compromise the patient's ability to complete the study, at the discretion
of the investigator
- No psoriasis
- No active clinically significant infection requiring antibiotics
- No glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficiency
- No retinal or visual field changes from prior 4-aminoquinoline compound
- No history of hypersensitivity to 4-aminoquinoline compound
- No other malignancy within the past 5 years except in situ carcinoma (e.g.,
adequately treated nonmelanoma skin cancer)
PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:
- See Disease Characteristics
- At least 3 months since prior hormone-ablative treatment (neoadjuvant therapy
allowed)
- No concurrent treatment for rheumatoid arthritis or systemic lupus erythematosus
- No concurrent disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drug
- No other concurrent commercially available medications that may either stimulate or
inhibit autophagy (e.g., calcitriol and hydroxychloroquine)
- No concurrent medications that may lead to interactions with hydroxychloroquine,
including penicillamine, telbivudine, botulinum toxin, digoxin, and propafenone
- No other concurrent hydroxychloroquine for treatment or prophylaxis of malaria
- No other concurrent chemotherapy, immunotherapy, hormonal cancer therapy,
radiotherapy, surgery for cancer, or other experimental medications
