No, the idea of cannon fodder as such is really more of a metaphore than an actual military tactic. Even low grade soldiers (which is what you typically refer to when you say cannon fodder) have value, the use of human wave attacks or other tactics that will likely result in extremely high casualties are usually the result of a desperate situation in some form. Just throwing people at something is strategically and tactically unsound for a wide variety of reasons.

To illustrate my point, let's play with two potential scenarios for what you can do with a prisoner:

1. Use that prisoner as cheap, expendable labour. This has been done many times throughout history. The advantages are that you get something done while keeping the prisoner under guard at a fixed location. You can guard a relatively large amount of prisoners without diverting large amounts of resources or manpower towards that end.
2. Outfit prisoners as a frontline unit. While expendable frontline units do occasionally have value (see Soviet barrier troops) their use is generally limited. Units need to be transported to the front, guarded heavily under chaotic conditions, fed, equipped and, once they realize they are to be sacrificed, are equally liable to attack your own troops or simply surrender immediately. This is simply not a good idea, you're almost always better off working your prisoners to death.