Biological Therapy in Treating Patients With Prostate Cancer

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: Histologically confirmed adenocarcinoma of the prostate Evidence of androgen-independent disease Patient must have received prior primary hormonal therapy (e.g., orchiectomy or gonadotropin-releasing hormone analog with or without antiandrogen) Demonstrated disease progression by any 1 of the following: Elevated PSA level (at least 5 ng/mL) that has serially risen from baseline on 2 occasions at least 1 week apart At least 1 new osseous lesion on bone scan More than 25% increase in the sum of the products of the perpendicular diameters of all bidimensionally measurable sites of disease No CNS metastases PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: Age: Not specified Performance status: ECOG 0-1 Life expectancy: At least 3 months Hematopoietic: Not specified Hepatic: Bilirubin no greater than 1.5 times upper limit of normal (ULN) SGPT no greater than 1.5 times ULN Hepatitis B surface antigen negative No active or chronic hepatitis B or C No other hepatic dysfunction that would preclude study Renal: Creatinine less than 2.0 mg/dL Calcium less than 11 mg/dL No renal dysfunction that would preclude study No symptomatic hypercalcemia Cardiovascular: No New York Heart Association class III or IV heart disease Pulmonary: No pulmonary disease requiring inhaled steroids or bronchodilators Other: No history of HIV 1 or 2 or human T-cell lymphotrophic virus (HTLV) 1 or 2 No other malignancy within the past 5 years except adequately treated basal cell or squamous cell skin cancer No history of autoimmune disease (e.g., rheumatoid arthritis or multiple sclerosis) No other major organ system dysfunction No gastrointestinal, neurologic, or psychiatric dysfunction that would preclude study Human anti-mouse antibody negative PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY: Biologic therapy: No concurrent growth factors, interleukin, interferons, or cytokines Chemotherapy: No prior chemotherapy or other systemic chemotherapy agent for prostate or any other cancer Endocrine therapy: Prior aminoglutethimide allowed At least 4 weeks since prior flutamide At least 6 weeks since prior bicalutamide or nilutamide Concurrent luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone agonists should be continued No concurrent corticosteroids or dexamethasone No concurrent anti-androgens (e.g., flutamide, bicalutamide, or nilutamide) Radiotherapy: At least 4 weeks since prior local radiotherapy No prior radiopharmaceutical therapy (e.g., strontium chloride Sr 89 or samarium Sm 153 lexidronam pentasodium) No concurrent radiotherapy Surgery: Not specified Other: Prior ketoconazole or PC-SPES allowed At least 1 week since prior antibiotic, antifungal, or antiviral agents At least 4 weeks since other prior systemic therapy for prostate cancer (except bisphosphonates or hormonal therapy) At least 6 weeks since prior investigational drugs or devices No other concurrent therapy for this disease No concurrent participation in another clinical trial No concurrent bisphosphonates unless initiated prior to study No concurrent immunosuppressive drugs No other concurrent experimental therapies