Ixabepilone Compared With Mitoxantrone and Prednisone in Treating Patients With Refractory Metastatic Prostate Cancer

Inclusion Criteria: Histologically confirmed adenocarcinoma of the prostate Metastatic disease (positive bone scan or measurable disease) Progressive hormone-refractory disease Based on 1 of the following: Transaxial imaging Rise in prostate-specific antigen (PSA) Radionuclide bone scan Must have undergone primary hormonal treatment (e.g., orchiectomy or gonadotropin-releasing hormone analog with or without an antiandrogen) and demonstrated disease progression after antiandrogen discontinuation as defined below: Two consecutive rising PSA values, obtained at least 2 weeks apart, or documented osseous or soft tissue progression For patients receiving flutamide, at least 1 PSA value must be obtained at least 4 weeks after flutamide discontinuation For patients receiving bicalutamide or nilutamide, at least 1 PSA value must be obtained at least 6 weeks after antiandrogen discontinuation Ineligible if sole manifestation of progression is an increase in disease-related symptoms Meets 1 of the following criteria: Measurable disease and an elevated PSA Nonmeasurable disease and an elevated PSA, as follows: Positive bone scan PSA level at least 5 ng/mL, with increases on at least 2 successive occasions at least 2 weeks apart New metastatic lesions by radionuclide bone scan Must have received at least 2 courses of paclitaxel- or docetaxel-based therapy, with disease progression documented during therapy or no more than 60 days after cessation of therapy* Testosterone < 50 ng/dL No known active brain metastases Performance status - ECOG 0-2 At least 12 weeks Granulocyte count ≥ 1,500/mm^3 Platelet count ≥ 100,000/mm^3 Bilirubin < 1.5 times upper limit of normal (ULN) AST and ALT < 3 times ULN Creatinine ≤ 1.5 times ULN Creatinine clearance > 40 mL/min Ejection fraction ≥ lower limit of normal by MUGA or echocardiogram No myocardial infarction within the past 6 months No significant cardiovascular disease No New York Heart Association class III or IV congestive heart failure No active angina pectoris Fertile patients must use effective contraception before, during, and for 3 months after study therapy No prior hypersensitivity reaction to agents containing Cremophor®EL No serious infection No nonmalignant medical illnesses that are uncontrolled or whose control would be jeopardized by complications of study therapy No psychiatric illness or social situation that would preclude study compliance No motor or sensory neuropathy grade 2 or greater No "currently active" second malignancy except nonmelanoma skin cancer Patients are not considered to have a "currently active" malignancy provided they have completed therapy and are considered to have less than a 30% risk of relapse No concurrent prophylactic colony-stimulating factors for myelosuppression See Disease Characteristics No more than 1 prior chemotherapy regimen No prior mitoxantrone or epothilone No other concurrent chemotherapy See Disease Characteristics At least 4 weeks since prior antiandrogens (e.g., flutamide) (6 weeks for bicalutamide or nilutamide) Patients must continue primary androgen deprivation therapy with luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone agonist during study if prior orchiectomy was not performed At least 4 weeks since prior systemic (including oral) corticosteroids except corticosteroids as part of first-line chemotherapy tapered off over 10-14 days prior to study entry At least 4 weeks since any prior hormonal therapy, including megestrol or finasteride No other concurrent systemic steroids At least 4 weeks since prior radiotherapy More than 8 weeks since prior radiopharmaceuticals (e.g., strontium chloride Sr 89 or samarium Sm 153 lexidronam pentasodium) No concurrent radiotherapy See Disease Characteristics At least 4 weeks since prior herbal products known to decrease PSA levels (e.g., Saw Palmetto or PC-SPES) More than 4 weeks since other prior antiprostate cancer therapy More than 4 weeks since prior systemic therapies for prostate cancer No other concurrent investigational agents