DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

• Histologically or cytologically confirmed adenocarcinoma of the pancreas

  • Progressive disease after gemcitabine-based chemotherapy for metastatic disease

• At least 1 unidimensionally measurable metastatic lesion

  • At least 20 mm by conventional techniques OR
  • At least 10 mm by spiral CT scan
  • Primary disease site is not considered a measurable lesion
• No known brain metastases

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

Age

• 18 and over

Performance status

• ECOG 0-1 OR
• Karnofsky 70-100%

Life expectancy

• More than 8 weeks

Hematopoietic

• WBC at least 3,000/mm^3
• Absolute neutrophil count at least 1,500/mm^3
• Platelet count at least 100,000/mm^3

Hepatic

• Bilirubin normal
• AST/ALT no greater than 2.5 times upper limit of normal

Renal

• Creatinine normal OR
• Creatinine clearance at least 60 mL/min

Cardiovascular

• No symptomatic congestive heart failure
• No unstable angina pectoris
• No cardiac tachyarrhythmia

Pulmonary

• No symptomatic chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
• No pulmonary embolism within the past 6 months

Other

• No prior allergic reactions to compounds of similar chemical or biological composition to UCN-01 or other agents used in this study
• No diabetes mellitus uncontrolled by insulin or oral hypoglycemic agents
• No uncontrolled concurrent illness
• No ongoing or active infection
• No psychiatric illness or social situation that would preclude study
• Not pregnant or nursing
• Negative pregnancy test
• Fertile patients must use effective contraception before, during, and for 3 months after study

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

Biologic therapy

• No concurrent immunotherapy

Chemotherapy

• See Disease Characteristics
• More than 4 weeks since prior chemotherapy (6 weeks for nitrosoureas or mitomycin) and recovered
• No more than 1 prior chemotherapy regimen for metastatic or recurrent disease
• No prior fluorouracil in the adjuvant or inoperable, locally advanced setting (except as a radiosensitizer)
• No other concurrent chemotherapy

Endocrine therapy

• Not specified

Radiotherapy

• More than 4 weeks since prior radiotherapy and recovered
• No prior mediastinal irradiation
• No concurrent radiotherapy

Surgery

• Not specified

Other

• No prior UCN-01 or other cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitors
• No concurrent combination antiretroviral therapy for HIV-positive patients
• No other concurrent investigational or commercial anticancer agents or therapies
• No concurrent anticonvulsant medications