Combination Chemotherapy Followed by Surgery in Treating Patients With Localized Prostate Cancer

You may be eligible if

• DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:
• Histologically confirmed adenocarcinoma of the prostate
• * High-risk, as defined by 1 of the following:
• * Stage T2b (palpable bilateral involvement) or surgically resectable T3
• * PSA 15 ng/mL or greater
• * Gleason grade greater than 4+3 (4+3, 4+4, or 5+any, but not 3+4)
• At least a 50% chance of prostate cancer recurrence within 5 years
• Planned prostatectomy as primary therapy
• No evidence of bone metastases by bone scan
• No evidence of lymph nodes greater than 2 cm on pelvic computed tomography (CT) scan (scan required only if PSA greater than 40 ng/mL)
• PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:
• Age:
• 18 and over
• Performance status:
• Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group(ECOG) 0-2
• Life expectancy:
• At least 10 years
• Hematopoietic:
• White Blood Cell(WBC) at least 3,000/mm\^3
• Neutrophil count at least 1,500/mm\^3
• Platelet count at least 100,000/mm\^3
• Hepatic:
• Conjugated bilirubin no greater than upper limit of normal (ULN)
• Alkaline phosphatase no greater than 4 times ULN
• Alanine transaminase(ALT) no greater than 2 times ULN (1.5 times ULN if alkaline phosphatase greater than 2.5 times ULN)
• Renal:
• Not specified
• Cardiovascular:
• Ejection fraction greater than 50% by Multiple Gated Acquisition(MUGA)scan
• Other:
• No other malignancy within the past 5 years except nonmelanoma skin cancer
• No significant active medical illness that would preclude study therapy
• No peripheral neuropathy grade 2 or greater
• No hypersensitivity to drugs formulated with polysorbate-80
• No significant contraindications to corticosteroids
• PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:
• Biologic therapy:
• Not specified
• Chemotherapy:
• No prior cytotoxic chemotherapy
• No other concurrent cytotoxic chemotherapy
• Endocrine therapy:
• No prior or concurrent conventional hormonal therapy
• Radiotherapy:
• No prior or concurrent radiotherapy (external beam or brachytherapy)
• Surgery:
• See Disease Characteristics
• Other:
• No prior or concurrent cryotherapy