Combination Chemotherapy Plus Radiation Therapy in Treating Patients With Advanced Pancreatic Cancer

You may be eligible if

• DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:
• Histologically confirmed unresectable adenocarcinoma of the pancreas
• No cystadenocarcinoma of the pancreas or pancreatic tumors of neuroendocrine origin
• Prior subtotal resection or gross residual disease
• * No microscopic residual disease only
• No metastatic disease outside of planned study radiotherapy field
• 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 2 times upper limit of normal (ULN)
• AST no greater than 3 times ULN
• Renal:
• Creatinine no greater than 1.5 times ULN
• Other:
• Not pregnant or nursing
• Negative pregnancy test
• Fertile patients must use effective contraception
• Able to maintain adequate oral nutrition
• No significant infection
• No other medical condition that would preclude study
• No other malignancy within the past 5 years except non-melanoma skin cancer
• No significant nausea or vomiting
• PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:
• Biologic therapy:
• No prior or concurrent biologic therapy
• Chemotherapy:
• No prior chemotherapy
• No other concurrent chemotherapy
• Endocrine therapy:
• Not specified
• Radiotherapy:
• See Disease Characteristics
• No prior radiotherapy that would overlap planned study radiotherapy fields
• Surgery:
• See Disease Characteristics
• At least 21 days since prior laparotomy