Paclitaxel and Bryostatin 1 in Treating Patients With Advanced Pancreatic Cancer

PRIMARY OBJECTIVES: I. To determine the response rates to weekly, sequential paclitaxel/ bryostatin-1 in patients with unresectable and metastatic pancreatic cancer. II. To determine the toxicity of therapy. III. To determine patient survival after therapy. IV. To determine Bryostatin-1 pharmacokinetics. OUTLINE: This is an open-label, multicenter study. Patients receive paclitaxel IV over 1 hour on day 1 followed by bryostatin 1 IV over 1 hour on day 2 of weeks 1-3. Courses repeat every 4 weeks in the absence of disease progression or unacceptable toxicity.