DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

* Histologically confirmed prostate cancer not amenable to curative treatment with surgery or radiotherapy
* Progressive disease defined by 1 of the following criteria:

* New bone scan lesions
* New or progressive radiologic lesions
* Sequential increases in PSA on at least 2 successive measurements no less than 2 weeks apart of at least 50% above nadir on prior therapy provided absolute value at time of enrollment is at least 5 ng/mL
* Progressive disease, as defined above, despite adequate hormonal therapy defined by all of the following:

* Continued treatment with an LHRH agonist or prior orchiectomy
* Sequential or concurrent treatment with an antiandrogen (e.g., flutamide, nilutamide, or bicalutamide)
* Trial of antiandrogen withdrawal at least 4 weeks prior to study
* CNS metastasis allowed if:

* Previously treated
* Neurologically stable
* Oral or intravenous steroids or anticonvulsants not required
* Brain scan (CT or MRI) within the past 2 weeks shows no active or residual disease

* Negative brain scan required if neurologic signs or symptoms suggestive of CNS metastasis

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

Age:

* 18 and over

Performance status:

* WHO 0-1

Life expectancy:

* Not specified

Hematopoietic:

* WBC at least 3,000/mm\^3
* Platelet count at least 75,000/mm\^3

Hepatic:

* Bilirubin no greater than 1.5 mg/dL
* Transaminases no greater than 2.5 times upper limit of normal

Renal:

* Creatinine no greater than 2.0 mg/dL OR
* Creatinine clearance at least 60 mL/min

Cardiovascular:

* No uncompensated coronary artery disease
* No history of myocardial infarction or severe unstable angina within the past 6 months
* No severe peripheral vascular disease associated with diabetes mellitus
* No deep venous or arterial thrombosis within the past 3 months

Pulmonary:

* No pulmonary embolism within the past 3 months

Other:

* Not pregnant
* Fertile patients must use effective contraception
* No significant uncontrolled underlying medical or psychiatric illness
* No serious active infection
* No other prior or concurrent malignancy except nonmelanoma skin cancer unless completed therapy and considered to be at less than 30% risk of relapse
* No history of severe allergic or anaphylactic reactions to paclitaxel or docetaxel

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

Biologic therapy:

* Not specified

Chemotherapy:

* No prior systemic chemotherapy
* No other concurrent chemotherapy
* No other concurrent investigational antineoplastic drugs

Endocrine therapy:

* See Disease Characteristics

Radiotherapy:

* See Disease Characteristics
* At least 4 weeks since prior radiotherapy
* No concurrent radiotherapy

Surgery:

* See Disease Characteristics
* At least 4 weeks since prior major surgery