DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

• Histologically confirmed prostate cancer, meeting the following criteria:

  • Metastatic disease
  • Androgen insensitive

• Progression after prior standard hormonal therapy for metastatic prostate cancer

  • Prior antiandrogen therapy requires a rising prostate-specific antigen (PSA) after withdrawal of at least 4 weeks
  • Prior bicalutamide therapy requires a rising PSA after withdrawal of at least 6 weeks

• Objective evidence of metastasis or relapsing local disease as evidenced by a rising PSA and at least 1 of the following:

  • Positive bone scan
  • Palpable disease

  • The following positive imaging studies:

    • Two consecutively rising PSA levels taken at least 1 week apart, with 1 level that is 50% above the nadir reached after the last therapeutic maneuver (as long as the last measurement is at least 5 ng/mL)
    • At least 1 lesion consistent with metastatic cancer on technetium Tc 99m whole body scintigraphy AND/OR
    • Soft-tissue metastases as measured by appropriate modalities (i.e., imaging and palpation)
• HLA-A2 positive (phase II only)
• No brain metastases

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

Age

• 18 and over

Performance status

• ECOG 0-2

Life expectancy

• More than 6 months

Hematopoietic

• Granulocyte count at least 1,500/mm^3
• Platelet count at least 100,000/mm^3
• Lymphocyte count at least 500/mm^3
• Hemoglobin at least 10 g/dL

Hepatic

• Bilirubin less than 1.5 mg/dL
• AST and ALT less than 2.5 times upper limit of normal
• Hepatitis B negative
• Hepatitis C negative

Renal

• Creatinine clearance greater than 60 mL/min
• Creatinine normal
• No proteinuria 1,000 mg or greater by 24-hour urine collection
• No hematuria*
• No abnormal sediment* NOTE: *Patient may be eligible provided the underlying cause is determined to be non-renal

Cardiovascular

• No prior unstable or newly diagnosed angina pectoris
• No myocardial infarction within the past 6 months
• No New York Heart Association class II-IV congestive heart failure
• No clinically significant cardiomyopathy requiring treatment

Immunologic

• HIV negative
• No active infection within the past 3 days
• No allergy or untoward reaction to prior vaccinia virus vaccination
• No concurrent significant autoimmune disease that is active or potentially life-threatening if activated
• No known allergy to eggs

Other

• Fertile patients must use effective contraception
• No other active malignancy within the past 2 years except nonmelanoma skin cancer or carcinoma in situ of the bladder
• No other concurrent serious or life-threatening illness
• No eczema or eczematoid skin disorders

• No acute, chronic, or exfoliative skin conditions, including:

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

• No close household contact with persons meeting any of the following criteria for at least 3 weeks after vaccination:

  • Prior or active eczema or other eczematoid skin disorders
  • Acute, chronic, or exfoliative skin conditions (e.g., atopic dermatitis, burns, impetigo, varicella zoster, severe acne, or other open rashes or wounds)
  • Pregnant or nursing women
  • Children under 5 years of age
  • Immunodeficient or immunosuppressed (including HIV infection) individuals
• Willing and able to travel to the National Institutes of Health for follow-up

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

Biologic therapy

• No prior PSA vaccine therapy (phase II only)

Chemotherapy

• More than 3 years since prior therapy with any of the following (phase II only):

  • Docetaxel
  • Paclitaxel
  • Doxorubicin
  • Cisplatin
  • Carboplatin
  • Mitoxantrone
  • Estramustine
  • Cyclophosphamide
  • Irinotecan
  • Topotecan

Endocrine therapy

• See Disease Characteristics
• No concurrent steroid therapy (except topical or inhaled steroids)
• Patients concurrently receiving luteinizing hormone-releasing factor analog therapy must continue therapy during study participation

Radiotherapy

• At least 4 weeks since prior radiotherapy

Surgery

• No prior splenectomy

Other

• Recovered from all prior therapy
• No concurrent antibiotics
• No other concurrent antitumor therapy