Flavopiridol in Treating Patients With Recurrent Prostate Cancer

OBJECTIVES:

I. Evaluate the clinical effectiveness of flavopiridol in patients with metastatic androgen independent adenocarcinoma of the prostate.

II. Assess the toxic effects of flavopiridol in this patient population.

OUTLINE:

Patients receive intravenous flavopiridol over 72 hours every 2 weeks for at least 4 courses. After 2 courses of treatment, patients not experiencing unacceptable toxic effects may receive a dose escalation. Patients are followed every 3 months until death.

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

• Performance Status: ECOG 0-2
• Life Expectancy: At least 3 months
• WBC at least 3,000/mm3
• Absolute neutrophil count at least 1,200/mm3
• Platelet count at least 100,000/mm3
• Hemoglobin at least 8 g/dL
• Bilirubin no greater than 1.5 mg/dL
• SGOT no greater than 2.5 times normal
• Creatinine no greater than 1.5 mg/dL
• Prostate-specific antigen at least 10 ng/mL (if bone only disease)
• No prior or concurrent maligancies within 5 years, except nonmelanoma skin cancer
• No serious medical illness
• No cord compression symptoms

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

• No prior chemotherapy
• No prior suramin therapy
• Prior or concurrent use of luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone allowed (no other concurrent hormonal therapy)
• No prior anti-androgen therapy within 4 weeks of study
• At least 4 weeks since prior radiotherapy
• No prior strontium therapy