Atrasentan in Treating Patients With Prostate Cancer

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: Diagnosis of hormone-refractory prostate cancer Completed protocol ABBOTT-M00-211 or ABBOTT-M00-244 within the past 30 days Disease progression OR Active in trial when double-blind treatment period ended PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: Age 19 and over Performance status Karnofsky 60-100% Life expectancy Not specified Hematopoietic WBC at least 3,000/mm3 Absolute neutrophil count greater than 1,000/mm3 Platelet count at least 100,000/mm3 Hemoglobin at least 9 g/dL Hepatic Bilirubin less than 1.5 mg/dL AST and ALT no greater than 1.5 times upper limit of normal Renal Creatinine clearance at least 40 mL/min Cardiovascular No New York Heart Association class II-IV heart disease Pulmonary No significant pulmonary disease requiring chronic or pulse steroid therapy within the past 3 months Other Fertile patients must use 2 effective methods of contraception (1 must be barrier contraception) during and for 8 weeks after study No reason that would preclude study No significant comorbid condition that would preclude study PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY: Biologic therapy Not specified Chemotherapy At least 4 weeks since other prior cytotoxic chemotherapy No other concurrent cytotoxic chemotherapy Endocrine therapy Not specified Radiotherapy At least 4 weeks since prior radionuclides No concurrent radionuclides Surgery Not specified Other At least 4 weeks since prior investigational agents No concurrent antiretroviral therapy for HIV-positive patients No concurrent participation in another investigational study