Docetaxel, Estramustine, and Exisulind in Treating Patients With Metastatic Prostate Cancer That Has Not Responded to Hormone Therapy

Inclusion criteria

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: * Histologically confirmed adenocarcinoma of the prostate * Progressive systemic (metastatic) disease despite castrate levels of testosterone secondary to orchiectomy or luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone (LHRH) agonist therapy * Castrate levels of testosterone must be maintained * LHRH analog therapy should be continued * Failed prior standard androgen-deprivation therapy * Serum testosterone no greater than 50 ng/mL for patients who have not had bilateral orchiectomy * Evidence of metastatic disease on CT scan, MRI, or bone scan (no positron-emission tomography or prostascint) * Evidence of progressive disease after most recent prior therapy (including hormonal therapy) as defined by 1 of the following: * Measurable disease progression * More than 20% increase in the sum of the longest diameters of target lesions from the time of maximal regression or the appearance of 1 or more new lesions * Bone scan progression * Appearance of 1 or more new lesions on bone scan attributable to prostate cancer AND * PSA at least 5 ng/mL * PSA progression * PSA at least 5 ng/mL which has increased serially from baseline on 2 occasions (at least 1 week apart) NOTE: If the confirmatory PSA is less than screening PSA, an additional test for rising PSA is required PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: Age * 18 and over Performance status * 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 * AST and ALT no greater than 1.5 times upper limit of normal (ULN) * Bilirubin no greater than ULN Renal * Creatinine no greater than 1.5 times ULN Cardiovascular * No myocardial infarction within the past year * No significant change in anginal pattern within the past year * No congestive heart failure * No 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 * No known hypersensitivity to sulindac * Fertile patients must use effective contraception PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY: Biologic therapy * Not specified Chemotherapy * No prior cytotoxic chemotherapy (including estramustine or suramin) * No other concurrent chemotherapy Endocrine therapy * See Disease Characteristics * At least 4 weeks since prior flutamide and megestrol * At least 6 weeks since prior bicalutamide and nilutamide * At least 4 weeks since prior hormonal therapy known to decrease PSA levels (including ketoconazole, aminoglutethimide, finasteride, or any systemic corticosteroid) * Concurrent primary testicular androgen suppression therapy (e.g., with a LHRH analog) allowed * No other concurrent hormonal therapy except: * Steroids for adrenal insufficiency * Hormones for non-disease-related conditions (e.g., insulin for diabetes) * Intermittent dexamethasone as an antiemetic Radiotherapy * 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 palliative radiotherapy Surgery * See Disease Characteristics * At least 4 weeks since prior major surgery and recovered Other * At least 4 weeks since prior herbal product known to decrease PSA levels (including saw palmetto, PC-SPES) * More than 1 week since prior sulindac * No concurrent sulindac * No concurrent chronic nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (including COX-2 inhibitors and salicylates such as aspirin, mesalamine, salsalate, and sulfasalazine) * Concurrent ibuprofen and naproxen allowed * Low-dose aspirin (e.g., 81 mg/day) for cardiovascular prevention allowed * No concurrent full-dose oral or parenteral anticoagulation therapy * Concurrent bisphosphonate therapy allowed provided therapy was initiated at least 4 weeks before study and disease has progressed despite therapy