OBJECTIVES: I. Assess the safety of recombinant prostate-specific membrane antigen (rPSMA)-pulsed autologous dendritic cells (CaPVax) in patients with metastatic hormone-refractory prostate cancer. II. Determine the potential clinical response in patients treated with this regimen. III. Determine the effect of this treatment regimen on pain, physical function, and quality of life of these patients.