Docetaxel With or Without Ascorbic Acid in Treating Patients With Metastatic Prostate Cancer

This randomized phase II trial studies how well docetaxel works when given with or without ascorbic acid in treating patients with prostate cancer that has spread to other places in the body. Drugs used in chemotherapy, such as docetaxel, work in different ways to stop the growth of tumor cells, either by killing the cells, by stopping them from dividing, or by stopping them from spreading. Ascorbic acid (vitamin C) is a water-soluble vitamin that may help inhibit the growth of cancer cells. It is not yet known whether docetaxel works better when given with or without ascorbic acid in treating prostate cancer.