Docetaxel, Estramustine, and Thalidomide in Treating Patients With Androgen-Independent Metastatic Adenocarcinoma of the Prostate

You may be eligible if

• DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:
• Histologically confirmed adenocarcinoma of the prostate
• * Metastatic disease
• * Androgen-independent disease
• Clinically progressive disease documented by at least 1 of the following parameters:
• * Two consecutively rising prostate-specific antigen (PSA) levels taken at least 1 week apart
• * PSA ≥ 5.0 ng/mL
• * Continued rise in PSA 4 weeks after discontinuation of prior flutamide OR 6 weeks after discontinuation of prior bicalutamide or nilutamide (for patients treated with anti-androgen agents)
• * At least 1 new lesion on bone scan
• * Progressive measurable disease
• Must have undergone bilateral surgical castration OR continue on a gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonist
• No brain metastases
• PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:
• Age
• 18 and over
• Performance status
• ECOG 0-2
• Life expectancy
• Not specified
• Hematopoietic
• Absolute neutrophil count \> 1,500/mm\^3
• Platelet count ≥ 100,000/mm\^3\*
• Hemoglobin ≥ 7.5 g/dL\* NOTE: \*No transfusions within the past 2 weeks
• Hepatic
• AST and ALT \< 2.5 times upper limit of normal (ULN)
• Bilirubin \< ULN (≤ 3.0 times ULN for patients with Gilbert's syndrome)
• Alkaline phosphatase ≤ 2.5 times ULN OR
• Fractionated hepatic alkaline phosphatase ≤ 2.5 times ULN
• Renal
• Creatinine ≤ 1.5 mg/dL OR
• Creatinine clearance ≥ 40 mL/min
• Cardiovascular
• No transient ischemic attacks or cerebrovascular accident within the past 2 years
• No myocardial infarction within the past 6 months
• No uncontrolled congestive heart failure
• No uncontrolled angina pectoris
• No thromboembolic disease
• Other
• No peripheral neuropathy ≥ grade 2
• No cognitive impairment that would preclude study participation or giving informed consent
• No other active malignancy within the past 2 years except non-melanoma skin cancer or superficial bladder carcinoma
• Fertile patients must use effective contraception for at least 1 month before, during, and for at least 1 month after study treatment
• PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:
• Biologic therapy
• No prior thalidomide
• Chemotherapy
• No prior docetaxel
• No prior estramustine
• No prior chemotherapy for metastatic prostate cancer
• Endocrine therapy
• See Disease Characteristics
• Radiotherapy
• Recovered from prior radiotherapy
• Surgery
• See Disease Characteristics
• Recovered from prior surgery
• Other
• No concurrent antiretroviral therapy for HIV-positive patients
• No concurrent complementary or alternative therapy that would interact with study drugs
• No concurrent herbal or nutritional products or dietary supplements that would interact with study drugs
• No concurrent aprepitant as secondary prophylaxis or antiemetic treatment