DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: Histologically confirmed adenocarcinoma of the prostate or metastatic carcinoma of presumptive prostate origin as manifest by the presence of sclerotic bony metastases and a serum PSA level greater than the upper limit of normal Radiologically proven progressive bone disease (e.g., new bone scan lesions, increased uptake of isotope at previous sites of disease, and/or increasing bone pain) Hormone refractory disease (i.e., disease progression or recurrence despite documented castrate levels of serum testosterone achieved by bilateral orchiectomy or antiandrogen therapy) Bone pain due to metastatic disease Patients must have achieved stable analgesia for at least 7 days No uncontrolled epidural metastases