BMS-247550 in Treating Patients With Advanced Pancreatic Cancer

You may be eligible if

• 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)