Radiation Therapy in Treating Patients With Bile Duct, Gallbladder, or Pancreatic Cancer

You may be eligible if

• DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: Histologically or cytologically confirmed locally advanced, unresectable carcinoma of the biliary tree or pancreas Metastatic disease allowed on a case by case basis provided the following criteria exists: Minimal or low volume disease Need for palliative radiotherapy to primary tumor with or without motexafin gadolinium No requirement for systemic therapy Measurable disease in at least 2 dimensions No ascites requiring therapy
• PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: Age: 18 and over Performance status: ECOG 0-2 Life expectancy: Not specified Hematopoietic: Absolute neutrophil count at least 1,500/mm3 Platelet count at least 100,000/mm3 No history of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency Hepatic: Bilirubin no greater than 2.0 mg/dL AST and ALT less than 3 times upper limit of normal Renal: Creatinine no greater than 1.6 mg/dL Other: Not pregnant or nursing Negative pregnancy test Fertile patients must use effective contraception No history of porphyria No active infection No physical or psychological illness that would preclude study
• PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY: Biologic therapy: Not specified Chemotherapy: No concurrent chemotherapy Endocrine therapy: Not specified Radiotherapy: See Disease Characteristics No prior radiotherapy to primary site of tumor Surgery: See Disease Characteristics At least 3 weeks since prior major surgery Other: At least 4 weeks since prior investigational drugs No other concurrent investigational antineoplastic drugs