Chemotherapy, Hormone Therapy, and Radiation Therapy in Treating Patients With Locally Advanced Prostate Cancer

You may be eligible if

• DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:
• Histologically confirmed adenocarcinoma of the prostate with one of the following prognostic factors:
• * Tx N0, baseline prostate specific antigen (PSA) greater than 20 ng/mL, and Gleason score at least 7
• * T3b-4 N0, any baseline PSA, and any Gleason score
• No pelvic lymph node disease requiring pelvic radiotherapy
• No metastatic disease by bone scan, CT scan, or MRI
• PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:
• Age:
• 18 and over
• Performance status:
• ECOG 0-2
• Life expectancy:
• Not specified
• Hematopoietic:
• Granulocyte count at least 1,500/mm\^3
• Platelet count at least 100,000/mm\^3
• Hepatic:
• Bilirubin no greater than 1.5 times upper limit of normal (ULN)
• SGOT no greater than 1.5 times ULN
• Renal:
• Creatinine no greater than 1.5 times ULN
• Cardiovascular:
• No significant cardiovascular disease
• No New York Heart Association class III or IV congestive heart failure
• No active angina pectoris
• No myocardial infarction within the past 6 months
• No history of hemorrhagic or thrombotic cerebral vascular accident
• No deep vein thrombosis within the past 6 months
• Pulmonary:
• No pulmonary embolism within the past 6 months
• Other:
• Fertile patients must use effective contraception
• PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:
• Biologic therapy:
• No prior immunotherapy for prostate cancer
• No concurrent routine filgrastim (G-CSF) or sargramostim (GM-CSF)
• Chemotherapy:
• No prior chemotherapy for prostate cancer
• No other concurrent anticancer chemotherapy
• Endocrine therapy:
• No more than 6 weeks of prior androgen deprivation therapy
• No other concurrent anticancer hormonal therapy except steroids for adrenal failure and/or hormones for nondisease-related conditions (e.g., insulin for diabetes)
• Radiotherapy:
• See Disease Characteristics
• No prior radiotherapy for prostate cancer
• No other concurrent anticancer radiotherapy
• Surgery:
• At least 4 weeks since prior major surgery
• Other:
• No prior alternative therapy (e.g., PC-SPES) for prostate cancer
• No concurrent alternative medicine (e.g., PC-SPES or saw palmetto) or large quantities of vitamins
• No other concurrent anticancer therapy