Ixabepilone in Treating Patients With Metastatic Prostate Cancer

Inclusion Criteria

• •Histologically confirmed adenocarcinoma of the prostate
• •Metastatic disease
• •Evidence of disease progression (e.g., new lesions on bone scan or new/enlarging lesions on CT scan) OR rising prostate-specific antigen (PSA) within the past 4 weeks
• •Radiologic evidence of hydronephrosis alone is not considered evidence of metastatic disease (e.g., increasing PSA)
• •Patients with bone metastases only (i.e., lacking soft tissue disease) must have a PSA level \>= 10 ng/mL within the past week
• •Patients with stable disease and rising PSA must show 2 consecutive rises in PSA measurements taken at least 2 weeks apart
• •Most recent PSA level must be obtained within the past 4 weeks
• •Disease progression after prior anti-androgen withdrawal must be confirmed by a rising PSA after the 4-6 week washout period (e.g., PSA level higher than the last PSA obtained while on anti-androgen therapy)
• •Failed prior bilateral orchiectomy or other primary hormonal therapy
• •Patients who have not undergone bilateral orchiectomy must continue on luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone (LHRH) agonist therapy (e.g., leuprolide or goserelin) or LHRH antagonist (e.g., abarelix) during study treatment AND must have a serum testosterone level =\< 50 ng/dL within the past 4 weeks to confirm androgen suppression
• •ECOG 0-2
• •Granulocyte count \>= 1,500/mm\^3
• •Platelet count \>= 100,000/mm\^3
• •WBC \>= 4,000/mm\^3
• •SGPT =\< 2 times upper limit of normal
• •Bilirubin =\< 1.5 mg/dL
• •INR normal
• •Creatinine =\< 1.5 mg/dL
• •Creatinine clearance \>= 50 mL/min
• •No New York Heart Association class III-IV heart disease
• •No myocardial infarction within the past 6 months
• •No active angina pectoris
• •No evidence of ventricular dysrhythmias or other unstable arrhythmia
• •Rate-controlled atrial fibrillation allowed provided the patient is asymptomatic
• •No other malignancy within the past 5 years except curatively treated nonmelanoma skin cancer
• •No serious medical illness or active infection that would preclude study participation
• •No concurrent prophylactic filgrastim (G-CSF)
• •No more than 2 prior cytotoxic chemotherapy regimens for hormone-refractory disease
• •At least 4 weeks since prior chemotherapy with a taxane-based regimen, mixantrone, or another cytotoxic chemotherapy regimen provided there is evidence of progressive disease
• •At least 4 weeks since prior flutamide AND continued evidence of progressive disease
• •At least 6 weeks since prior bicalutamide or nilutamide AND continued evidence of progressive disease
• •At least 4 weeks since prior estrogen or estrogen-like agents (e.g., PC-SPES, saw palmetto, or other herbal products which may contain phytoestrogens)
• •At least 4 weeks since prior hormonal therapy, including megestrol, finasteride, ketoconazole, or systemic corticosteroids
• •No concurrent estrogen or estrogen-like agents (e.g., PC-SPES, saw palmetto, or other herbal products which may contain phytoestrogens)
• •More than 4 weeks since prior radiotherapy
• •No prior strontium chloride Sr 89 or samarium Sm 153 lexidronam pentasodium
• •No other prior radioisotope
• •No concurrent radiotherapy for pain control
• •No more than 1 prior experimental (non-cytotoxic) therapy AND evidence of progressive disease
• •At least 4 weeks since prior experimental therapy
• •Concurrent bisphosphonates (e.g., pamidronate or zoledronate) allowed provided treatment was initiated at least 4 weeks ago and there is evidence of progressive disease
• •No other concurrent investigational agents
• •No concurrent therapeutic warfarin
• •Concurrent prophylactic or therapeutic doses of low molecular weight heparin allowed provided criterion for INR is met
• •No carcinomatous meningitis or brain metastases
• •Fertile patients must use effective contraception
• •No peripheral neuropathy \> grade 1