Inclusion Criteria

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

- Histologically or cytologically confirmed advanced pancreatic adenocarcinoma

- Distant metastases OR

- Locoregional disease that has failed or is not amenable to locoregional therapy

- No de novo locoregional disease

- No known brain metastases

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

Age:

- Adult

Performance status:

- Zubrod 0-1

Life expectancy:

- Not specified

Hematopoietic:

- Absolute granulocyte 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

- Alkaline phosphatase less than 2.5 times ULN

Renal:

- Creatinine no greater than 1.5 mg/dL

Cardiovascular:

- No recent myocardial infarction, unstable angina, or life-threatening arrhythmia

Other:

- Not pregnant or nursing

- Fertile patients must use effective contraception

- No other malignancy within the past 5 years except adequately treated basal cell or
squamous cell skin cancer, carcinoma in situ of the cervix, or stage I or II cancer
in remission

- No prior severe hypersensitivity reaction to drugs containing Cremophor EL

- No active or uncontrolled infection

- No severe psychiatric disorders

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

Biologic therapy:

- No prior neoadjuvant, adjuvant, or primary immunotherapy for advanced pancreatic
cancer

- No concurrent anticancer immunotherapy

Chemotherapy:

- No prior neoadjuvant, adjuvant, or primary chemotherapy for advanced pancreatic
cancer

- No other concurrent anticancer chemotherapy

Endocrine therapy:

- No prior neoadjuvant, adjuvant, or primary hormonal therapy for advanced pancreatic
cancer

- No concurrent anticancer hormonal therapy

Radiotherapy:

- No prior neoadjuvant, adjuvant, or primary radiotherapy or chemoradiotherapy for
advanced pancreatic cancer

- Prior palliative radiotherapy allowed if at least 1 lesion remains outside of
radiation field or at least 1 lesion has progressed since radiotherapy

- No concurrent anticancer radiotherapy except palliative radiotherapy to non-target
metastatic sites

Surgery:

- At least 2 weeks since prior surgery for pancreatic cancer and recovered

Other:

- No other concurrent anticancer therapy

- No concurrent herbal or unconventional therapy (e.g., St. John's Wort)