Vaccine Therapy in Treating Patients With Stage D0 Prostate Cancer

Inclusion criteria

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: * Histopathological documentation of prostate cancer * If no pathologic specimen is available, patients may enroll on study with a pathologist's report showing a histologic diagnosis of prostate cancer and a clinical course consistent with the disease * Biochemical progression, as defined by the following: * A rise in PSA of ≥ 2 ng/mL above the nadir (for patients previously treated with definitive radiotherapy or cryotherapy) * Two consecutive rises in PSA \> 0.3 ng/mL (for patients previously treated with radical prostatectomy) * PSA ≤ 20 ng/mL * Testosterone ≥ lower limit of normal * Negative CT scan and bone scan for metastatic prostate cancer * No clinically active brain metastases PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: * ECOG performance status of 0-1 * Life expectancy ≥ 6 months * Granulocyte count ≥ 1,500/mm³ * Platelet count ≥ 100,000/mm³ * Hemoglobin ≥ 10 g/dL * Bilirubin ≤ 1.5 mg/dL OR total bilirubin ≤ 3.0 mg/dL (in patients with Gilbert's syndrome) * AST and ALT ≤ 2.5 times upper limit of normal * No other active malignancies within the past 60 months (with the exception of nonmelanoma skin cancer or carcinoma in situ of the bladder) * No life-threatening illnesses * No immunocompromised status due to any of the following: * HIV positivity * Active autoimmune diseases, such as Addison's disease, Hashimoto's thyroiditis, systemic lupus erythematosus, Sjögren syndrome, scleroderma, myasthenia gravis, Goodpasture syndrome, or active Grave's disease * Patients with a history of autoimmunity that has not required systemic immunosuppressive therapy or does not threaten vital organ function, including CNS, heart, lungs, kidneys, skin, or gastrointestinal tract, will be allowed * Other immunodeficiency diseases or iatrogenic immunodeficiency from drugs * No other serious medical illness that would interfere with the patient's ability to carry out the treatment program * No documented contraindication (allergy or severe reaction to BCG) PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY: * See Disease Characteristics * Recovered from all prior therapy, including surgery and radiotherapy (no toxicity ≥ grade 2) * No prior chemotherapy * No concurrent topical steroids (including steroid eye drops) or systemic steroids * Nasal or inhaled steroid use is permitted * No concurrent medications used for urinary symptoms, including 5-alpha reductase inhibitors (finasteride and dutasteride) * No concurrent alternative medications known to alter PSA (e.g., phytoestrogens or saw palmetto) * No other concurrent hormonal therapy * No other concurrent anticancer treatment, including chemotherapy, systemic glucocorticoids, radiotherapy, major surgical procedures for prostate cancer, or nonprotocol-related immunotherapy