OBJECTIVES: I. Compare the overall survival, time to treatment failure, clinical benefit response rate (analgesic consumption, pain intensity, performance status, and weight change), and objective response rate in chemotherapy-naive patients with unresectable locally advanced or metastatic adenocarcinoma of the pancreas treated with oral nitrocamptothecin vs gemcitabine. II. Compare the toxicity of these 2 regimens in these patients.

OUTLINE: This is a randomized, open-label, multicenter study. Patients are stratified according to measurable disease (yes vs no), Karnofsky performance status (50-70% vs 70-100%), and prior radiotherapy. Patients are randomized to 1 of 2 treatment arms. Arm I: Patients receive oral nitrocamptothecin on days 1-5. Treatment repeats every week for 8 courses in the absence of disease progression or unacceptable toxicity. Patients with stable or responding disease after week 8 may receive additional courses. Arm II: Patients receive gemcitabine IV over 30 minutes on day 1. Treatment repeats every week for 7 courses in the absence of disease progression or unacceptable toxicity. Patients then undergo 1 week of rest. Patients with stable or responding disease after week 8 may receive gemcitabine IV over 30 minutes on days 1, 8, and 15. Courses repeat every 4 weeks. Pain is assessed within 7 days prior to study, at days 28 and 56 during study, and then every 28 days after completion of study. Patients are followed every 3 months for 1 year or until death.

PROJECTED ACCRUAL: Approximately 994 patients (497 per arm) will be accrued for this study within 22 months.

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: Histologically or cytologically confirmed unresectable locally advanced (stage II or III) or metastatic (stage IV) adenocarcinoma of the pancreas

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: Age: Over 18 Performance status: Karnofsky 50-100% Life expectancy: Not specified Hematopoietic: Granulocyte count greater than 1,500/mm3 Hemoglobin at least 9 g/dL Platelet count greater than 100,000/mm3 Hepatic: SGOT and SGPT no greater than 3 times normal (5 times normal if liver tumor present) Bilirubin no greater than 2.0 mg/dL Renal: Creatinine no greater than 2.0 mg/dL Other: Not pregnant or nursing Negative pregnancy test Fertile patients must use effective contraception

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY: Biologic therapy: At least 3 weeks since prior immunotherapy and recovered No filgrastim (G-CSF) concurrent with nitrocamptothecin Concurrent epoetin alfa allowed Chemotherapy: Prior fluorouracil as radiosensitizer allowed No other prior chemotherapy (e.g., nitrocamptothecin or gemcitabine) No other concurrent chemotherapy Endocrine therapy: No concurrent hormonal or corticosteroid therapy Patients requiring hormonal therapy or corticosteroid therapy for medical reasons may remain on study, but will not be evaluable for clinical benefit response Radiotherapy: At least 3 weeks since prior radiotherapy and recovered No concurrent radiotherapy Surgery: See Disease Characteristics More than 2 weeks since prior major surgery and recovered Prior stent placement allowed No planned surgery within 8 weeks after initiation of treatment