CT-2584 in Treating Patients With Metastatic Prostate Cancer That Has Not Responded to Previous Therapy

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: Histologically proven metastatic adenocarcinoma of the prostate Refractory to hormonal therapy Failed at least 1 nonhormonal therapy (prior radiotherapy allowed, but does not constitute nonhormonal therapy) No CNS metastases PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: Age: 18 and over Performance status: 60-100% Life expectancy: Not specified Hematopoietic: No known or suspected red blood cell disorder (e.g., hereditary spherocytosis, paroxysmal nocturnal hematuria, sickle cell trait, autoimmune hemolytic disorder) Hepatic: Bilirubin no greater than 1.5 mg/dL No severe liver dysfunction, particularly, no impaired hepatic synthetic functions as evidenced by prolonged prothrombin time or otherwise unexplained serum albumin less than 3 g/dL Renal: Creatinine no greater than 1.5 mg/dL Cardiovascular: No evidence of congestive heart failure No clinically significant cardiac arrhythmia No prior or concurrent symptoms of acute coronary artery disease No significant cardiac valve disease (e.g., aortic stenosis, valve prosthesis) Pulmonary: No prior asthma during adulthood that required therapy Other: No prior seizures or drug related anaphylactic reactions No history of microangiopathy (e.g., cavenous hemangioma, prior thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura) PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY: Biologic therapy: At least 4 weeks since prior systemic biologic therapy for prostate cancer and recovered Chemotherapy: At least 4 weeks since prior chemotherapy (12 weeks for strontium-89 and 6 weeks for bicalutamide) and recovered Endocrine therapy: See Disease Characteristics Radiotherapy: See Disease Characteristics No concurrent radiotherapy Surgery: At least 3 weeks since prior major thoracic or abdominal surgery Other: At least 4 weeks since other prior investigational drugs (except bisphosphonates) and recovered