Taxotere/Prednisone Plus Sunitinib in Chemotherapy-Naïve, Hormone Refractory Prostate Cancer Patients

RATIONALE: Drugs used in chemotherapy, such as docetaxel and prednisone, work in different ways to stop the growth of tumor cells, either by killing the cells or by stopping them from dividing. Sunitinib malate may stop the growth of tumor cells by blocking some of the enzymes needed for cell growth and by blocking blood flow to the tumor. Giving docetaxel and prednisone together with sunitinib malate may kill more tumor cells. PURPOSE: This pilot phase I/II trial studies the side effects and best way to give docetaxel and prednisone together with sunitinib malate and to see how well it works in treating patients with prostate cancer that progressed after hormone therapy.