OBJECTIVES: I. Determine the clinical benefit response (including improvement in quality of life) of vinorelbine and paclitaxel in patients with metastatic hormone-refractory prostate cancer. II. Correlate PSA response with clinical benefit response in these patients. III. Determine the objective response rate and duration of remission in patients with measurable disease treated with this regimen. IV. Further assess the toxicity of this combination in a cohort of prostate cancer patients. V. Examine the survival characteristics of these patients undergoing this regimen.