The purpose of this study is to evaluate how safe PS-341(VELCADE) is when given with Docetaxel (Taxotere) to patients with androgen-independent prostate cancer, and also to see what effects (good and bad) it has on you and on your cancer.

This is a dose escalation study, which means that the first group of patients will receive a low dose of PS-341 (VELCADE) and Docetaxel (Taxotere). If the low dose of VELCADE and Taxotere appears to be safe, then the next group of patients will receive a higher dose of VELCADE and Taxotere.

Inclusion criteria

Each patient must meet all of the following inclusion criteria to be enrolled in the study:

• Patient has histologically-confirmed advanced and/or metastatic androgen-independent prostate cancer requiring anti-neoplastic treatment.

• Previous or concurrent hormone therapy with a luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone analog (e.g., leuprolide) does not preclude enrollment in the study.

• Patient has progressive measurable or evaluable disease, defined as meeting at least one of the following three criteria [1]:

  1. Progressive measurable disease (changes in the size of lymph nodes or parenchymal masses on physical examination or x-ray).

  2. Progressive bone metastasis [presence of new lesion(s) on a bone scan].

  3. Progressive PSA, as evidenced by two separate measurements taken at least one week apart and confirmed by a third, and if necessary, a fourth measurement.

     • If the third measurement is not greater than the second measurement, then a fourth measurement must be taken; the fourth measurement must be greater than the second measurement for the patient to be eligible for enrollment in the study.
     • The confirmatory PSA measurement (i.e., the third or, if applicable, fourth PSA measurement) must be greater than or equal to 5 ng/mL.

• Patient is 18 years of age or older.

• Patient has a Karnofsky performance status of 60% or greater.

• Patient has a life expectancy of three months or longer.

• Patient has all of the following pretreatment laboratory data within 14 days before the first study drug dose:

• Absolute neutrophil count (ANC) greater than or equal to 1,500/mm3.

• Platelets greater than or equal to100,000/mm3.

• Hemoglobin >8.0 g/dL.

• Serum creatinine less than or equal to 2.5 mg/dL.

• Patient has given voluntary written informed consent before performance of any study-related procedure not part of normal medical care.

• Patient agrees to use an acceptable barrier method for contraception from Screening through 90 days after the last study drug dose. [It is recommended that female partners of male patients enrolled in this study also use an acceptable method of birth control (i.e., a hormonal contraceptive, intra-uterine device, diaphragm with spermicide, condom with spermicide, or abstinence).]

Exclusion criteria Patients meeting any of the following exclusion criteria are not to be enrolled in the study.

• Patient has received chemotherapy within four weeks, nitrosoureas within six weeks, or antibody therapy within eight weeks of enrollment.

• Patient has received radiation therapy within four weeks of enrollment.

• Patient has not recovered from all toxic effects of previous chemotherapy or radiation or antibody therapy.

• Patient received treatment with flutamide within four weeks of enrollment or nilutamide or bicalutamide within six weeks of enrollment.

• Patient has had any major surgery within four weeks of enrollment.

• Patient has a history of allergic reactions to diuretics or anti-emetics suggested to be administered in conjunction with study drug

• Patient has a history of severe hypersensitivity reaction to docetaxel or other agents formulated with polysorbate 80.

• Patient had a myocardial infarction within six months of enrollment or has uncontrolled angina, severe uncontrolled ventricular arrhythmias, symptomatic congestive heart failure, unstable angina pectoris, or electrocardiographic evidence of acute ischemia

• Patient has uncontrolled brain metastases or central nervous system disease.

• Patient has Grade 2 or higher peripheral neuropathy

• Patient has any of the following pretreatment laboratory data within 14 days before the first study drug dose:

  • Total bilirubin > than the upper limit of normal (ULN).
  • Alanine transaminase (ALT) and/or aspartate transaminase (AST) >1.5 x the ULN concurrent with alkaline phosphatase >2.5 x the ULN.
  • Alkaline phosphatase >5 x the ULN, unless shown by fractionation to be bone-derived and AST, ALT, bilirubin, gamma glutamyl transferase (GGT), and 5'nucleotidase are <1.5 x the ULN and bilirubin is within normal range.
  • Serum testosterone 50 ng/mL or higher.

• Patient is HIV-infected.

• Patient is hepatitis B surface antigen positive or has previously documented hepatitis C infection.

• Patient has an uncontrolled intercurrent illness (e.g., active infection).

• Patient has another serious medical or psychiatric illness that could, in the investigator's opinion, potentially interfere with the completion of treatment according to this protocol.