DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

• Histologically confirmed adenocarcinoma of the prostate

• Metastatic disease despite castrate levels of testosterone due to orchiectomy or luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone (LHRH) agonist

  • Refractory to standard androgen deprivation therapy

• Measurable disease with any PSA level

  • Target lesion at least 20 mm by physical exam or chest x-ray OR
  • At least 10 mm by spiral CT scan
  • Histological confirmation of neoplastic nature required if disease is confined to only 1 target lesion OR

• Non-measurable disease with PSA at least 5 ng/mL

  • Bone lesions
  • Pleural or pericardial effusions or ascites
  • CNS lesions or leptomeningeal disease
  • Previously irradiated lesions, unless progression documented after radiotherapy

• Progressive disease

  • Objective evidence of greater than 20% increase in the sum of the longest diameters of target lesions for measurable disease
  • Progression by bone scan or PSA for non-measurable disease
• Castrate levels of testosterone must be maintained
• Serum testosterone no greater than 50 ng/mL for patients without prior bilateral orchiectomy

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

Age:

• Any age

Performance status:

• CTC (ECOG) 0-2

Life expectancy:

• Not specified

Hematopoietic:

• Granulocyte count at least 1,500/mm^3
• Platelet count at least 100,000/mm^3

Hepatic:

• Bilirubin no greater than upper limit of normal (ULN)
• AST no greater than 1.5 times ULN

Renal:

• Creatinine no greater than 1.5 times ULN
• Urinalysis no greater than 1+ protein on dipstick

Cardiovascular:

• No myocardial infarction or significant change in anginal pattern within the past year
• No congestive heart failure (New York Heart Association class II-IV heart disease)
• No deep vein thrombosis within the past year

Pulmonary:

• No pulmonary embolus within the past year

Other:

• No clinically significant peripheral neuropathy
• Fertile patients must use effective contraception

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

Biologic therapy:

• No prior antiangiogenesis agents, including thalidomide and bevacizumab

Chemotherapy:

• No prior cytotoxic chemotherapy, including estramustine and suramin
• No other concurrent chemotherapy

Endocrine therapy:

• See Disease Characteristics
• At least 4 weeks since any hormonal therapy, including ketoconazole, aminoglutethimide, corticosteroids, flutamide, or megestrol
• At least 6 weeks since prior bicalutimide and nilutimide
• No concurrent hormonal therapy except steroids for adrenal insufficiency or nondisease-related conditions (e.g., insulin for diabetes)
• Concurrent testicular androgen suppression (e.g., LHRH analog) allowed, if initiated before study

Radiotherapy:

• See Disease Characteristics
• At least 4 weeks since prior radiotherapy and recovered
• At least 8 weeks since prior strontium chloride Sr 89 or samarium Sm 153 lexidronam pentasodium
• No concurrent radiotherapy

Surgery:

• See Disease Characteristics
• At least 4 weeks since prior major surgery and recovered

Other:

• No requirement for full-dose or parenteral anticoagulation
• Daily prophylactic aspirin allowed
• No concurrent bisphosphonate therapy unless initiated at least 1 month prior to study with progressive disease despite this therapy