Vaccine Therapy Plus Biological Therapy in Treating Patients With Prostate Cancer

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: Histologically confirmed prostate cancer Biochemically progressive disease after primary surgery or radiotherapy with or without neoadjuvant androgen ablation Greater than 50% increase in PSA level above baseline value of 1.0 ng/mL post-prostatectomy or 2.0 ng/mL post-radiotherapy, based on 3 successive determinations taken at 2-week intervals Patients with prior intermittent hormonal therapy and non-castrate levels of testosterone are eligible Evaluable disease No radiographic evidence of metastasis No active CNS or epidural tumor No soft tissue and/or bone disease No androgen-independence with no evidence of radiographic disease May not be symptomatic or anticipated to develop symptoms within 6 months of study entry Concurrent registration to protocol MSKCC-90-040 required PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: Age: 18 and over Performance status: Karnofsky 70-100% Life expectancy: At least 6 months Hematopoietic: WBC at least 3,500/mm^3 Platelet count at least 100,000/mm^3 Hepatic: Bilirubin less than 2.0 mg/dL OR SGOT less than 3 times upper limit of normal Renal: Creatinine no greater than 2.0 mg/dL OR Creatinine clearance at least 40 mL/min Cardiovascular: No clinically significant cardiac disease (New York Heart Association class III or IV) Pulmonary: No severe debilitating pulmonary disease Other: No other prior malignancy within the past 5 years except nonmelanoma skin cancer No positive stool guaiac except hemorrhoids or history of documented radiation-induced proctitis No narcotic-dependent pain No infection requiring antibiotics No requirement for immunosuppressive therapy No allergy to seafood PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY: Biologic therapy: Not specified Chemotherapy: At least 4 weeks since prior chemotherapy Endocrine therapy: See Disease Characteristics At least 2 weeks since change in hormonal therapy (except to maintain castrate levels of testosterone), including prednisone or dexamethasone At least 8 weeks since prior suramin and/or documented plasma concentration of suramin is less than 50 micrograms/mL (replacement hydrocortisone allowed) Radiotherapy: See Disease Characteristics At least 4 weeks since prior radiotherapy No concurrent radiotherapy to only measurable lesion Surgery: See Disease Characteristics No concurrent surgery of only measurable lesion Other: Recovered from prior therapy No other concurrent oncolytic agents No concurrent immunosuppressive therapy