DHA-Paclitaxel in Treating Patients With Metastatic Pancreatic Cancer

You may be eligible if

• 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