Calcitriol, Mitoxantrone, and Prednisone in Treating Patients With Metastatic Prostate Cancer

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

• Histologically confirmed prostate cancer

  • Androgen-independent disease, defined as disease progression while on standard hormonal management, including antiandrogen withdrawal

    • Patients must continue primary hormonal therapy during study treatment
  • Regional or distant metastases
• Prostate-specific antigen > 5 ng/mL
• No brain metastases

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

Age

• 18 to 100

Performance status

• ECOG 0-3

Life expectancy

• Not specified

Hematopoietic

• Adequate hematologic function

Hepatic

• Adequate hepatic function

Renal

• Adequate renal function
• No calcium-salt kidney stones within the past 5 years
• No hypercalcemia

Cardiovascular

• Adequate cardiac function
• No significant cardiac disease
• No atrial fibrillation

Other

• Fertile patients must use effective barrier contraception during and for 2 months after completion of study treatment
• No other serious medical illness
• No other active malignancy except nonmelanoma skin cancer

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

Biologic therapy

• More than 28 days since prior biologic therapy

Chemotherapy

• No prior chemotherapy

Endocrine therapy

• See Disease Characteristics

Radiotherapy

• No prior strontium chloride Sr 89
• More than 28 days since prior radiotherapy
• More than 56 days since prior samarium Sm 153 lexidronam pentasodium

Surgery

• Prior prostatectomy and/or orchiectomy allowed

Other

• More than 28 days since prior investigational therapy