OBJECTIVES: I. Determine the safety and feasibility of prostate specific antigen (PSA) RNA pulsed autologous dendritic cells in patients with metastatic prostate cancer. II. Evaluate the presence and magnitude of cellular immune responses against PSA as a surrogate target for immune activation in this patient population. III. Assess the presence, frequency, and activation status of peripheral cytotoxic T lymphocytes prior to and following immunotherapy with this regimen in these patients. IV. Evaluate humoral immune responses as evidenced on circulating peripheral PSA specific antibodies in this patient population. V. Evaluate delayed type hypersensitivity reactions to irradiated PSA RNA transfected dendritic cells and other standard recall antigens prior to and following immunotherapy in these patients. VI. Evaluate eventual clinical responses as evidenced on clinical and biochemical (PSA) response criteria.