DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

• Histologically confirmed prostate cancer

  • Metastatic disease
  • Androgen-independent disease
• No bone pain requiring narcotics
• No brain metastases

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

Age

• 18 and over

Performance status

• ECOG 0-1

Life expectancy

• At least 6 months

Hematopoietic

• Granulocyte count ≥ 1,500/mm^3
• Platelet count ≥ 100,000/mm^3
• Lymphocyte count ≥ 500/mm^3
• Hemoglobin ≥ 9 g/dL

Hepatic

• AST and ALT ≤ 2.5 times upper limit of normal
• Bilirubin ≤ 1.5 mg/dL (total bilirubin ≤ 3.0 mg/dL for patients with Gilbert's syndrome)
• Hepatitis B negative
• Hepatitis C negative

Renal

• Creatinine clearance ≥ 60 mL/min
• No proteinuria ≥ grade 2 (unless the cause is determined to be nonrenal)

Cardiovascular

• No history of congestive heart failure OR objective evidence of congestive heart failure by physical exam or imaging
• No New York Heart Association class II-IV cardiac disease

Pulmonary

• No pulmonary disease with fatigue or dyspnea during ordinary physical activity

Gastrointestinal

• No inflammatory bowel disease
• No Crohn's disease
• No ulcerative colitis
• No active diverticulitis

Immunologic

• HIV negative
• No history of allergy or untoward reaction to prior vaccination with vaccinia virus or to any component of the vaccinia regimen
• No serious hypersensitivity reaction to egg products

• No autoimmune disease that requires treatment, including any of the following:

  • Addison's disease
  • Hashimoto's thyroiditis
  • Systemic lupus erythematosus
  • Sjögren's syndrome
  • Scleroderma
  • Goodpasture's syndrome
  • Active Graves disease
  • Autoimmune hemolytic anemia
  • Ulcerative and hemorrhagic colitis
  • Endocrine disorders (e.g., thyroiditis, hyperthyroidism, hypothyroidism, autoimmune hypophysitis/hypopituitarism, or adrenal insufficiency)
  • Sarcoid granuloma
  • Myasthenia gravis
  • Polymyositis
  • Guillain-Barre syndrome
• History of autoimmunity allowed provided it has not required systemic immunosuppressive therapy OR does not threaten vital organ function, including the CNS, heart, lungs, kidneys, skin, and gastrointestinal tract
• No history of multiple sclerosis
• No immunodeficiency or immunosuppression (by disease or therapy)
• No history of or active eczema or other eczematoid skin disorder

• No other acute, chronic, or exfoliative skin condition, including any of the following:

  • Atopic dermatitis
  • Burns
  • Impetigo
  • Varicella zoster
  • Severe acne
  • Other open rashes or wounds

Other

• Fertile patients must use effective contraception during and for ≥ 4 months after completion of study treatment
• No history of seizures
• No history of encephalitis
• No other active malignancy within the past 12 months except nonmelanoma skin cancer or carcinoma in situ of the bladder
• No life-threatening illness

• Able to avoid close household contact with the following individuals for ≥ 3 weeks after vaccination:

  • Individuals with prior or active eczema or other eczematoid skin disorder

  • Individuals with other acute, chronic, or exfoliative skin condition, including any of the following:

    • Atopic dermatitis
    • Burns
    • Impetigo
    • Varicella zoster
    • Severe acne
    • Other open rashes or wounds
  • Children 3 years of age or younger
  • Pregnant or nursing women
  • Immunodeficient or immunosuppressed individuals (by disease or therapy), including HIV-infected individuals
• No other serious medical illness that requires treatment and would preclude study participation

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

Biologic therapy

• Prior vaccinia immunization allowed
• No prior anti-cytotoxic T-lymphocyte-associated antigen-4 monoclonal antibody (MDX-010)
• No other concurrent anticancer immunotherapy

Chemotherapy

• See Disease Characteristics
• No prior chemotherapy
• No concurrent chemotherapy

Endocrine therapy

• More than 2 weeks since prior and no concurrent systemic or topical steroids, including steroid eye drops

  • Nasal or inhaled steroids allowed
• Concurrent gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonist or antagonist therapy required for patients who have not undergone prior bilateral surgical orchiectomy

• No concurrent anticancer systemic glucocorticoids

  • Concurrent replacement glucosteroids for patients with pituitary insufficiency allowed
• Concurrent steroids for therapy-induced autoimmunity allowed

Radiotherapy

• No concurrent anticancer radiotherapy

Surgery

• See Endocrine therapy
• Recovered from prior surgery
• No prior splenectomy
• No concurrent major surgery for treatment of cancer

Other

• Recovered from prior therapy