Docetaxel, Prednisone, and Vatalanib in Treating Patients With Advanced Prostate Cancer

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: Histologically documented adenocarcinoma of the prostate Progressive, systemic (metastatic) disease despite castrate levels of testosterone due to orchiectomy or luteinizing-hormone releasing hormone (LHRH) agonist, meeting 1 of the following criteria: Measurable disease, defined as any lesion that can be accurately measured in at least 1 dimension ≥ 2 cm by conventional techniques or ≥ 1 cm by spiral CT scan or MRI Nonmeasurable disease with PSA ≥ 5 ng/mL Bone lesions Pleural or pericardial effusions, ascites CNS lesions, leptomeningeal disease Irradiated lesions, unless progression documented after radiotherapy No PSA ≥ 5 ng/mL as only evidence of disease PSA evidence for progressive prostate cancer consists of a PSA level ≥ 5 ng/mL that has risen on ≥ 2 successive occasions, ≥ 2 weeks apart Castrate levels of testosterone (< 50 ng/dL) must be maintained If no prior orchiectomy, patients must remain on testicular androgen suppression (e.g., with an LHRH analogue) Patients receiving an antiandrogen as part of primary androgen ablation must demonstrate disease progression after discontinuation of antiandrogen Disease progression after antiandrogen withdrawal is defined as 2 consecutive rising PSA values, obtained at least 2 weeks apart, or documented osseous or soft tissue progression For patients receiving flutamide or megestrol acetate, at least 1 of the PSA values must be obtained 4 weeks or more after flutamide/megestrol acetate discontinuation For patients receiving bicalutamide or nilutamide, at least 1 of the PSA values must be obtained 6 weeks or more after antiandrogen discontinuation If improvement after antiandrogen withdrawal is noted, disease progression must be established No pleural effusion or ascites that causes respiratory compromise ( ≥ grade 2 dyspnea) No history of CNS disease, including primary brain tumor, seizures, or carcinomatous meningitis PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: Fertile patients must use effective barrier contraception during and for 3 months after completion of study treatment Karnofsky performance status ≥ 60% Life expectancy > 12 weeks Granulocyte count > 1,500/mm^3 Platelet count > 75,000/mm^3 Hemoglobin > 8.0 g/dL Creatinine < 1.5 times upper limit of normal (ULN) Bilirubin < 1.5 times ULN SGOT/SGPT < 1.5 times ULN Urinalysis ≤ 1+ proteinuria based on dipstick reading OR 2+ proteinuria on dipstick reading AND total urinary protein ≤ 3,500 mg on 24 hour urine collection and creatinine clearance ≥ 50 mL/min on a 24-hour urine collection No impairment of gastrointestinal (GI) function or GI disease that may affect or alter absorption of vatalanib (i.e., malabsorption syndromes) No myocardial infarction or significant change in anginal pattern within the last 6 months, symptomatic congestive heart failure (New York Heart Association class III or IV), or uncontrolled cardiac arrhythmia No pre-existing grade 3 or 4 clinical peripheral neuropathy No history of severe hypersensitivity reaction to docetaxel or other drugs formulated with polysorbate 80 No deep vein thrombosis or pulmonary embolus within the past year No poorly controlled diabetes (fasting blood glucose > 250) despite optimization of medical therapy No labile or poorly controlled hypertension (systolic blood pressure > 160 mm Hg, diastolic blood pressure > 90 mm Hg) despite maximal management with anti-hypertensives No serious uncontrolled, concurrent medical illness, including ongoing or active infection Patients on Suppressive antibiotic therapy for chronic urinary tract infection are eligible No psychiatric illness or social situation that would limit compliance with treatment No "currently active" second malignancy other than nonmelanoma skin cancers Not considered "currently active" if competed therapy and at < 30% risk of relapse No interstitial pneumonia or extensive and symptomatic interstitial fibrosis of the lung PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY: See Disease Characteristics No grapefruit or grapefruit juice during study treatment No history of gastrectomy/small bowel resection At least 4 weeks since prior hormonal therapy, including ketoconazole, aminoglutethimide, systemic steroids (any dose), and megestrol acetate (any dose) At least 4 weeks since prior drug or herbal product known to decrease PSA levels (e.g., finasteride, saw palmetto, or PC-SPES) At least 4 weeks since prior major surgery and fully recovered At least 4 weeks since prior radiation therapy and fully recovered At least 8 weeks since the last dose of prior strontium chloride Sr 89 or samarium Sm 153 lexidronam pentasodium Patients receiving bisphosphonate therapy prior to initiating protocol treatment must have received bisphosphonates for at least the past month No bisphosphonate initiation for 1 month prior to and during study treatment No prior systemic chemotherapy for prostate cancer No prior antiangiogenic agents (thalidomide, bevacizumab) No other concurrent chemotherapy, investigational agents, radiotherapy (including palliative), or biologic therapy No biologic therapy or immunotherapy ≤ 4 weeks prior to study treatment No more than 1 prior therapy with an investigational agent, completed ≥ 4 weeks prior to study treatment No concurrent combination antiretroviral therapy for HIV-positive patients No concurrent therapeutic warfarin or similar oral anticoagulant that is metabolized by the cytochrome p450 system Heparin is allowed No other concurrent hormonal therapy except for the following: Steroids for adrenal failure Hormones for nondisease-related conditions (e.g., insulin for diabetes) Intermittent dexamethasone