Gemcitabine With or Without Dalteparin in Treating Patients With Unresectable or Metastatic Pancreatic Cancer

You may be eligible if

• DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:
• Histologically or cytologically confirmed pancreatic adenocarcinoma or poorly differentiated carcinoma of the pancreas that is considered ineligible for curative resection
• PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:
• Age:
• 18 and over
• Performance status:
• Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group 0-2
• Life expectancy:
• Not specified
• Hematopoietic:
• White Blood Cell count greater than 3,500/mm\^3
• Platelet count greater than 100,000/mm\^3
• No clinically significant bleeding disorder
• No prior heparin-induced thrombocytopenia
• Hepatic:
• Bilirubin less than 2.0 mg/dL
• aspartate aminotransferase less than 3 times normal
• Renal:
• Creatinine less than 2.0 mg/dL
• Cardiovascular:
• No prior hemorrhagic stroke
• No uncontrolled hypertension (sustained blood pressure greater than 200 mm Hg systolic or 110 mm Hg diastolic)
• Other:
• Not pregnant or nursing
• Negative pregnancy test
• Fertile patients must use effective contraception
• No other active malignancy
• No gastrointestinal bleeding within the past 30 days
• No contraindications to anticoagulation
• PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:
• Biologic therapy:
• Not specified
• Chemotherapy:
• No prior chemotherapy for metastatic disease
• Prior adjuvant chemotherapy allowed
• Endocrine therapy:
• Not specified
• Radiotherapy:
• At least 4 weeks since prior radiotherapy and recovered
• Surgery:
• Prior surgical resection allowed
• At least 4 weeks since prior surgery with non-curative intent and recovered
• More than 30 days since prior neurologic or ophthalmologic surgery
• Other:
• At least 2 weeks since prior low-molecular-weight heparin
• More than 30 days since prior experimental therapeutic agent
• No concurrent heparin or warfarin for pre-existing condition