Crossover From Docetaxel and Placebo to Docetaxel and Imatinib in Patients With Androgen-Independent Prostate Cancer With Bone Metastases: Extension Trial to ID03-0008

Study start date: May 1, 2003

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: * Diagnosis of adenocarcinoma of the prostate * Osseous metastases * Androgen-independent disease * Previously randomized to the docetaxel and placebo arm of protocol MDA-ID-030008 and has been removed from protocol due to disease progression * No more than 6 weeks since final treatment with docetaxel and placebo * No uncontrolled brain metastases or spinal cord compression PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: Age * Any age Performance status * Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) 0-3 Life expectancy * Not specified Hematopoietic * Absolute granulocyte count ≥ 1,500/mm\^3 * Platelet count ≥ 75,000/mm\^3 Hepatic * Bilirubin ≤ 1.5 mg/dL * alanine transaminase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) ≤ 2 times upper limit of normal * No chronic liver disease Renal * Creatinine clearance ≥ 40 mL/min Cardiovascular * No New York Heart Association class III or IV congestive heart failure * No unstable angina * No uncontrolled severe hypertension * No myocardial infarction within the past 6 months Pulmonary * No oxygen-dependent lung disease Other * No prior dose-limiting toxicity with docetaxel requiring more than 2 dose reductions * No severe hypersensitivity to docetaxel * No prior dose-limiting toxicity with docetaxel requiring 1 dose reduction AND experienced recurrent grade 3 or 4 toxicity at the time of progression on MDA-ID-030008 * No uncontrolled diabetes mellitus * No concurrent severe infection * No overt psychosis, mental disability, or other incompetency that would preclude giving informed consent * No history of non-compliance * HIV negative * Fertile patients must use effective contraception PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY: Biologic therapy * No concurrent biologic therapy Chemotherapy * See Disease Characteristics * No other concurrent chemotherapy Endocrine therapy * No concurrent second-line hormonal therapy Radiotherapy * At least 3 weeks since prior radiotherapy * No recent strontium chloride Sr 89 or samarium Sm 153 lexidronam pentasodium Surgery * Recovered from prior surgery Other * No other concurrent anticancer agents * No other concurrent investigational agents * No concurrent therapeutic warfarin * Concurrent mini-dose warfarin (1 mg/day) for central venous catheter prophylaxis allowed * No concurrent grapefruit or grapefruit juice