Capecitabine and Docetaxel in Treating Patients With Metastatic Prostate Cancer

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: Histologically confirmed adenocarcinoma of the prostate Metastatic disease Androgen-independent disease Progressive disease, as documented by ≥ 1 of the following criteria: Rising prostate-specific antigen (PSA) despite androgen deprivation therapy and anti-androgen withdrawal Demonstrates a rising PSA trend with 2 successive elevations ≥ 1 week apart Measurable disease progression Nonmeasurable disease progression, defined as the following: PSA ≥ 5 ng/mL New areas of bone metastases on bone scan Serum testosterone ≤ 0.5 ng/mL (castrate level) Concurrent luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone agonist therapy required for medically castrated patients PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: Performance status Zubrod 0-2 Life expectancy At least 12 weeks Hematopoietic Absolute neutrophil count ≥ 1,500/ mm^3 Hemoglobin ≥ 8.0 g/dL Platelet count ≥ 100,000/mm^3 Hepatic Bilirubin normal Transaminases meeting 1 of the following criteria: AST and/or ALT ≤ 2.5 times upper limit of normal (ULN) if alkaline phosphatase (AP) normal AP ≤ 4 times ULN if AST and/or ALT normal Renal Creatinine clearance ≥ 50 mL/min OR Creatinine ≤ 2 mg/dL Cardiovascular No congestive heart failure No second- or third-degree heart block No myocardial infarction within the past 3 months Other Fertile patients must use effective contraception during and for 6 months after completion of study treatment No other malignancy within the past 2 years except adequately treated skin cancer or other cancer in complete remission No history of severe hypersensitivity reaction to docetaxel or other drugs formulated with polysorbate 80 No peripheral neuropathy ≥ grade 2 PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY: Chemotherapy No prior chemotherapy for metastatic disease Endocrine therapy See Disease Characteristics More than 4 weeks since prior flutamide More than 6 weeks since prior bicalutamide or nilutamide Radiotherapy At least 4 weeks since prior radiotherapy Other At least 28 days since prior investigational drugs for prostate cancer No other concurrent anti-cancer therapy