DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

• Histologically or cytologically confirmed carcinoma of the pancreas

  • Metastatic disease

• Measurable disease

  • Lesions within a previously irradiated field are not considered measurable
• No islet cell tumors, lymphoma, or sarcoma of the pancreas
• No known or clinical evidence of CNS metastasis

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

Age:

• 18 and over

Performance status:

• ECOG 0-1

Life expectancy:

• Not specified

Hematopoietic:

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

Hepatic:

• Bilirubin no greater than 1.5 times upper limit of normal (ULN)
• SGOT or SGPT no greater than 2.5 times ULN

Renal:

• Creatinine no greater than 1.5 times ULN

Cardiovascular:

• No uncontrolled ventricular arrhythmia
• No myocardial infarction within the past 3 months
• No superior vena cava syndrome

Neurologic:

• No peripheral neuropathy greater than grade 1
• No uncontrolled major seizure disorder
• No spinal cord compression

Other:

• No concurrent serious infection requiring parenteral therapy
• No unstable or serious concurrent medical condition

• No other prior malignancy except:

  • Curatively treated nonmelanoma skin cancer or carcinoma in situ of the cervix OR
  • Other cancer curatively treated with surgery alone that has not recurred for more than 5 years
• No psychiatric disorder that would preclude study compliance
• Not pregnant or nursing
• Negative pregnancy test
• Fertile patients must use effective contraception during and for 6 months after study therapy

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

Biologic therapy:

• No concurrent immunotherapy

Chemotherapy:

• No prior chemotherapy for metastatic disease
• Prior adjuvant chemoradiotherapy allowed
• At least 28 days since prior chemotherapy and recovered
• No other concurrent chemotherapy

Endocrine therapy:

• No concurrent hormonal therapy except megestrol

Radiotherapy:

• See Disease Characteristics
• Prior adjuvant chemoradiotherapy allowed
• At least 28 days since prior large-field radiotherapy and recovered
• No concurrent radiotherapy

Surgery:

• At least 14 days since prior major surgery and recovered

Other:

• No other concurrent anticancer therapy