Docetaxel, Radiation Therapy, and Prednisone in Treating Patients Who Have Undergone Surgery For Prostate Cancer

Inclusion Criteria: Histologically confirmed prostate cancer Prostate-specific antigen (PSA) level > 0.2 ng/mL after radical prostatectomy performed ≥ 6 weeks ago No lymph node-positive prostate cancer No documented metastatic disease CT scan of the abdomen and pelvis negative (within the past 6 months) No bone pain OR negative bone scan (within the past 6 months) ECOG performance status 0-2 Absolute neutrophil count ≥ 1,500/mm³ Platelet count ≥ 100,000/mm³ Hemoglobin ≥ 9 g/dL Bilirubin normal ALT and AST ≤ 1.5 times upper limit of normal Alkaline phosphatase normal Fertile patients must use effective contraception No peripheral neuropathy > grade 1 No other malignancy within the last 5 years that could affect the diagnosis or assessment of prostate cancer No serious illness with a life expectancy of < 5 years No concurrent medical, psychological, or social circumstance that would preclude study compliance No history of severe hypersensitivity reaction to docetaxel or other drugs formulated with polysorbate 80 Exclusion Criteria: No prior orchiectomy No prior chemotherapy regimen for this disease No prior pelvic radiotherapy No pre- or postoperative androgen manipulation, such as luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone agonists, antiandrogens (flutamide, bicalutamide, or nilutamide), or finasteride Preoperative androgen manipulation for a duration of ≤ 3 months allowed No prior immunotherapy No prior strontium chloride Sr 89, samarium Sm 153 lexidronam pentasodium, or other systemic radioisotopes No concurrent filgrastim (G-CSF) or sargramostim (GM-CSF) No concurrent herbal or alternative regimens including, but not limited to, any of the following: Saw palmetto PC-SPES Shark cartilage No other concurrent investigational agents No other concurrent chemotherapy, immunotherapy, or hormonal therapy (except for replacement steroids)