PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY: Biologic therapy: Not specified Chemotherapy: No prior chemotherapy (including neoadjuvant chemotherapy) Endocrine therapy: See Disease Characteristics At least 6 weeks since prior bicalutamide At least 4 weeks since prior flutamide or nilutamide Recovered from prior toxicities of endocrine therapy Radiotherapy: No prior strontium 89, samarium 153, or other radioisotope therapies At least 4 weeks since prior radiotherapy and recovered Surgery: See Disease Characteristics Recovered from prior surgery