Vaccine Therapy in Treating Patients With Metastatic Prostate Cancer

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: Histologically confirmed metastatic adenocarcinoma of the prostate Stage D1-3 Regional lymph node, bone, visceral, or soft tissue metastases No transitional cell or small cell carcinoma Testosterone less than 50 mg/L if prior treatment with luteinizing hormone releasing hormone (LHRH) analogues or estrogens Evidence of androgen refractory disease after surgical castration and discontinuation of LHRH analogue therapy No previously irradiated or new CNS metastases PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: Age: 18 and over Performance status: Karnofsky 70-100% Life expectancy: More than 6 months Hematopoietic: WBC at least 3,000/mm^3 Hemoglobin at least 9 g/dL Platelet count at least 100,000/mm^3 Hepatic: Bilirubin less than 2.0 mg/dL PT at least 11.3 seconds but no greater than 13.3 seconds PTT at least 20.1 seconds but no greater than 32.9 seconds No hepatic disease No viral hepatitis Renal: Creatinine less than 2.5 mg/dL Cardiovascular: No New York Heart Association class III or IV heart disease Pulmonary: No asthma No chronic obstructive pulmonary disease No severe lung disease Other: No other medical illness or psychological impediment that would preclude study No other concurrent malignancy except nonmelanoma skin cancer or controlled superficial bladder cancer No active acute or chronic infection including symptomatic urinary tract infection No autoimmune disease (e.g., inflammatory bowel disease, systemic lupus erythematosus, rheumatoid arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, scleroderma, or multiple sclerosis) HIV negative Adequate peripheral vein access PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY: Biologic therapy: Prior biologic therapy allowed No other concurrent immunotherapy Chemotherapy: Prior chemotherapy allowed No concurrent chemotherapy Endocrine therapy: See Disease Characteristics At least 4 weeks since prior non-steroidal hormonal therapy if increase in PSA while receiving non-steroidal hormonal therapy At least 6 weeks since prior steroids Concurrent LHRH analogues for gonadal androgen suppression allowed No concurrent steroid therapy No concurrent corticosteroids Radiotherapy: See Disease Characteristics Prior palliative radiotherapy for bone metastases allowed Prior prostatic radiotherapy allowed At least 4 weeks since prior radiotherapy At least 12 weeks since prior strontium chloride Sr 89 No concurrent radiotherapy Surgery: See Disease Characteristics Other: Recovered from prior therapy No concurrent immunosuppressive agents (e.g., azathioprine or cyclosporine)