RATIONALE: SU5416 may stop the growth of cancer by stopping blood flow to the tumor. Androgens can stimulate the growth of prostate cancer cells. Hormone therapy using flutamide, bicalutamide, leuprolide, or goserelin may fight prostate cancer by reducing the production of androgens. Radiation therapy uses high-energy x-rays to damage tumor cells. Combining SU5416, hormone therapy, and radiation therapy may kill more tumor cells.

PURPOSE: Phase I trial to study the effectiveness of SU5416 plus hormone therapy and radiation therapy in treating patients who have prostate cancer.

OBJECTIVES: I. Determine the safety of SU5416 in combination with standard androgen ablation and radiotherapy in patients with intermediate or advanced-stage prostate cancer.

OUTLINE: This is a multicenter, dose-escalation study of SU5416. Patients receive oral bicalutamide once daily or oral flutamide three times daily for at least 1 month followed by leuprolide or goserelin subcutaneously once monthly for four months. Beginning after the fourth administration of leuprolide or goserelin, patients undergo radiotherapy 5 days a week for 7-8 weeks. Beginning one month before radiotherapy and continuing until 1 month after radiotherapy, patients receive SU5416 IV over 60 minutes on days 1 and 4. Treatment repeats weekly in the absence of disease progression or unacceptable toxicity. Cohorts of 3-12 patients receive escalating doses of SU5416 until the maximum tolerated dose (MTD) is determined. The MTD is defined as the dose preceding that at which at least 3 of 12 patients experience dose-limiting toxicity. Patients are followed every 4-6 weeks for 4 months and then every 8-12 weeks for 8 months.

PROJECTED ACCRUAL: A total of 3-18 patients will be accrued for this study.

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: Histologically confirmed adenocarcinoma of the prostate with at least 1 of the following: Clinical stage T2b or greater Gleason score at least 8 Pretreatment PSA greater than 15 ng/mL Pelvic and/or periaortic node(s) positive on abdominal/pelvic CT scan Metastatic disease requiring palliation for local symptoms No known brain metastases

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: Age: Not specified Performance status: ECOG 0-2 OR Karnofsky 60-100% Life expectancy: Not specified Hematopoietic: Absolute neutrophil count at least 1,500/mm3 Platelet count at least 75,000/mm3 Hepatic: Bilirubin no greater than upper limit of normal (ULN) AST no greater than 2.5 times ULN Renal: Creatinine no greater than 1.5 mg/dL OR Creatinine clearance greater than 60 mL/min Cardiovascular: No symptomatic congestive heart failure No cardiac arrhythmia No uncompensated coronary artery disease on ECG or physical exam No myocardial infarction or severe unstable angina within the past 6 months No deep venous or arterial thrombosis within the past 3 months Pulmonary: No pulmonary embolism within the past 3 months Other: No other concurrent uncontrolled illness No ongoing or active infection No diabetes mellitus with severe peripheral vascular disease No psychiatric illness or social condition that would preclude study No prior allergic reactions attributed to compounds of similar chemical or biological composition to SU5416 or Cremophor EL vehicle No prior severe allergic reactions to paclitaxel or docetaxel

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY: Biologic therapy: Not specified Chemotherapy: No concurrent anticancer chemotherapy Endocrine therapy: Prior hormonal therapy of any duration allowed Radiotherapy: No prior pelvic radiotherapy Surgery: No prior prostatectomy Other: No prior non-hormonal systemic therapy for prostate cancer No other concurrent investigational or commercial agents or therapies for malignancy No concurrent combination antiretroviral therapy for HIV-positive patients