OBJECTIVES: I. Determine the clinical benefit of two combination chemotherapy regimens, paclitaxel, etoposide, and estramustine vs ketoconazole, doxorubicin, vinblastine, and estramustine in patients with androgen independent prostate cancer, as measured by prostate specific antigen (PSA)-based response rate, time to progression, and overall survival. II. Identify the most promising regimen to use in a phase III trial based on toxic effects, PSA-based response rates, and clinical benefit.