Inclusion Criteria

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