R-(-)-Gossypol and Androgen Ablation Therapy in Treating Patients With Newly Diagnosed Metastatic Prostate Cancer

PRIMARY OBJECTIVE: I. To determine the percentage of patients with newly diagnosed metastatic prostate cancer who demonstrate undetectable prostate-specific antigen (PSA) (\< 0.2 ng/mL) at 7 months when treated with R-(-)-gossypol (AT-101) and androgen ablation therapy. SECONDARY OBJECTIVES: I. To determine the safety of this regimen in these patients. II. To determine the percentage of patients with PSA \>= 4.0 ng/mL, overall PSA \< 4.0 ng/mL, and a PSA \>= 0.2 ng/mL but \< 4.0 ng/mL during the first 7 months of therapy. OUTLINE: Patients receive R-(-)-gossypol orally (PO) once daily (QD) on days 1-21. Treatment repeats every 28 weeks for 8 courses in the absence of disease progression or unacceptable toxicity. Patients may receive bicalutamide PO QD beginning 6 weeks before the initiation of R-(-)-gossypol and continuing after completion of treatment, at the discretion of the treating physician.