DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

• Histologically proven prostate cancer; stage T2a, T2b, or T3a disease as defined by 1997 (current) AJCC criteria
• No metastatic disease

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

Age:

• 18 and over

Performance status:

• ECOG 0-1

Life expectancy:

• At least 5 years unless due to prostate cancer

Hematopoietic:

• WBC greater than 4000/mm3
• Platelet count greater than 100,000/mm3
• Hematocrit greater than 30%

Hepatic:

• Not specified

Renal:

• Not specified

Cardiovascular:

• No myocardial infarction within past 6 months
• No unstable angina pectoris with medication
• Diastolic BP no greater than 100 mm Hg
• No pacemaker
• No congestive heart failure requiring medication
• No evidence of vasculopathy

Neurologic:

• No evidence of neuropathy

Pulmonary:

• No severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (FEV1 less than 50% of predicted or less than 1 liter)

Other:

• No prior or concurrent malignancy except nonmelanoma skin cancer
• No severe, insulin dependent diabetes mellitus
• No severe cerebrovascular disease

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

Biologic therapy:

• Not specified

Chemotherapy:

• No prior chemotherapy

Endocrine therapy:

• Up to 2 months of prior neoadjuvant hormonal therapy allowed

Radiotherapy:

• No prior pelvic radiotherapy

Surgery:

• Not specified

Other:

• No anti-arrhythmic drugs