A Randomized Phase III Study of Neo-Adjuvant Docetaxel and Androgen Deprivation Prior to Radical Prostatectomy Versus Immediate Radical Prostatectomy in Patients With High-Risk, Clinically Localized Prostate Cancer

RATIONALE: Drugs used in chemotherapy, such as docetaxel, work in different ways to stop the
growth of tumor cells, either by killing the cells or by stopping them from dividing.
Androgens can cause the growth of prostate cancer cells. Antihormone therapy, such as
goserelin and leuprolide, may stop the adrenal glands from making androgens. Giving docetaxel
and leuprolide or goserelin before surgery may make the tumor smaller and reduce the amount
of normal tissue that needs to be removed. It is not yet known whether giving docetaxel and
leuprolide or goserelin before surgery is more effective than surgery alone in treating
patients with prostate cancer.

PURPOSE: This randomized phase III trial is studying docetaxel and leuprolide or goserelin to
see how well they work when given before surgery compared with surgery alone in treating
patients with high-risk localized prostate cancer.