Docetaxel, Estramustine, and Thalidomide in Treating Patients With Prostate Cancer Previously Treated With Hormone Therapy

Inclusion criteria

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: * Histologically confirmed adenocarcinoma of the prostate * Prior treatment with androgen ablation including: * Orchiectomy OR * Luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone (LHRH) therapy (e.g., leuprolide) * Patients on leuprolide must continue to receive the drug * Prior nonsteroidal antiandrogens (e.g., flutamide, bicalutamide, or nilutamide) required * Metastatic disease with disease progression during androgen ablation, defined by at least 1 of the following: * 2 consecutive increased prostate-specific antigen (PSA) levels measured at least 1 week apart * More than 25% increase in bidimensionally measurable soft tissue metastases * 20% increase in the sum of the baseline sum of longest diameter of measurable lesions * Appearance of new lesions * Appearance of new foci on a radionuclide bone scan * PSA greater than 10 ng/dL * Testosterone no greater than 50 ng/mL (castrate level) * No CNS metastases PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: Age: * Over 18 Performance status: * Karnofsky 70-100% Life expectancy: * More than 16 weeks Hematopoietic: * WBC greater than 3,500/mm3 * Absolute neutrophil count greater than 1,500/mm3 * Platelet count greater than 100,000/mm3 * Hemoglobin at least 8 g/dL Hepatic: * AST and/or ALT no greater than 2.5 times upper limit of normal (ULN) if alkaline phosphatase no greater than ULN OR * Alkaline phosphatase no greater than 4 times ULN if AST/ALT no greater than ULN * Bilirubin no greater than ULN Renal: * Creatinine less than 2.2 mg/dL Cardiovascular: * No myocardial infarction within the past 6 months * No New York Heart Association class III or IV heart disease * No history of arterial or venous thrombosis * No cerebrovascular accident within the past year Pulmonary: * No history of pulmonary embolism Other: * Fertile patients must use effective contraception during and for 4 weeks after study * No peripheral neuropathy grade 2 or greater * No active infection * No serious concurrent medical illness that would preclude study * No prior severe hypersensitivity reaction to docetaxel or other drugs formulated with polysorbate 80 * No other prior or concurrent active malignancy within the past 2 years except non-melanoma skin cancers * No other medical condition or reason that would preclude study PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY: Biologic therapy: * Not specified Chemotherapy: * No prior chemotherapy for prostate cancer Endocrine therapy: * See Disease Characteristics * At least 4 weeks since prior flutamide (6 weeks for bicalutamide or nilutamide) and continued evidence of disease progression (rising PSA) * Prior steroids for prostate cancer allowed * No concurrent steroids except for pre-medication for docetaxel Radiotherapy: * At least 4 weeks since prior radiotherapy Surgery: * See Disease Characteristics Other: * No concurrent herbal supplements to treat prostate cancer