RATIONALE: Gene mutations may make prostate cancer cells unable to attach to androgens. This may permit the growth of prostate cancer. Gene testing may improve the identification of patients with advanced prostate cancer.

PURPOSE: Clinical trial to study the androgen receptor gene in patients with prostate cancer that is not responsive to hormone therapy.

OBJECTIVES:

1. the feasibility of collecting bone marrow biopsies from prostate cancer patients in a cooperative group setting
2. the incidence of marrow invasion by prostate tumor in random bone marrow biopsy
3. the influence of previous prostate radiation on obtaining prostate tumor
4. the frequency and type of AR mutations and
5. association of AR mutations with response to antiandrogen withdrawal.

1. Histologically proven adenocarcinoma of the prostate that is refractory to hormone therapy
2. Patients who are eligible for anticancer therapy on Protocol CLB-9480, CLB-9583, CLB-9680, or CLB-9780 are also eligible for this study if they have not started treatment on those protocols

Eligible men enrolled on a trial of antiandrogen withdrawal had a minimum prostate-specific antigen (PSA) level of 5 ng/dL that was increasing on castration therapy including an antiandrogen. Marrow biopsies were obtained to collect prostate tumor. Additional samples were obtained from men enrolled on chemotherapy trials.