DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

* Histologically or cytologically confirmed high-risk adenocarcinoma of the prostate

* Clinical stage D2 disease as evidenced by one of the following:

* Visceral disease (liver, lung, or other viscera)
* Bone metastases to sites in both the axial (spine, pelvis, ribs, or skull) and appendicular (claviculae, humeri, or femora) skeleton
* No prior or concurrent (treated or untreated) brain metastases

* Patients with clinical evidence of brain metastasis must have a negative brain CT or MRI
* No evidence of untreated spinal cord compression

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

Age:

* Over 18

Performance status:

* Zubrod 0-2

Life expectancy:

* Not specified

Hematopoietic:

* Absolute granulocyte count at least 1,500/mm\^3
* Platelet count at least 100,000/mm\^3
* No active hypercoagulability

Hepatic:

* Not specified

Renal:

* Not specified

Cardiovascular:

* No transient ischemic attacks, stroke, or myocardial infarction within the past 6 months
* No active coronary artery disease requiring antianginal therapy
* No active thrombophlebitis

Pulmonary:

* No history of pulmonary embolus

Other:

* No other prior malignancy within the past 5 years except adequately treated basal cell or squamous cell skin cancer or adequately treated stage I or II cancer currently in complete remission

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

Biologic therapy:

* At least 4 weeks since prior biologic therapy and recovered
* No concurrent biologic therapy

Chemotherapy:

* No prior cytotoxic chemotherapy
* No other concurrent chemotherapy

Endocrine therapy:

* Prior androgen-blockade therapy (e.g., luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone agonist and antiandrogen therapy) allowed if administered for a duration of less than 30 days
* Prior neoadjuvant hormonal therapy allowed

Radiotherapy:

* At least 4 weeks since prior radiotherapy and recovered
* No concurrent radiotherapy

Surgery:

* At least 4 weeks since prior surgery and recovered

Other:

* No concurrent bisphosphonates