UCN-01 and Fluorouracil in Treating Patients With Metastatic Pancreatic Cancer

RATIONALE: UCN-01 may stop the growth of tumor cells by blocking the enzymes necessary for tumor cell growth. Drugs used in chemotherapy use different ways to stop tumor cells from dividing so they stop growing or die. Combining UCN-01 with chemotherapy may kill more tumor cells. PURPOSE: Phase II trial to study the effectiveness of combining UCN-01 with fluorouracil in treating patients who have metastatic pancreatic cancer that has not responded to treatment with gemcitabine.

OBJECTIVES: * Determine the response rate, time to progression, and overall survival of patients with gemcitabine-refractory metastatic pancreatic cancer treated with UCN-01 and fluorouracil. * Determine the toxicity of this regimen in these patients. OUTLINE: Patients receive fluorouracil IV over 24 hours on days 1, 8, 15, and 22. Patients also receive UCN-01 IV continuously over 72 hours (course 1 only) beginning on day 2. In subsequent courses, UCN-01 is infused over 36 hours. Courses repeat every 28 days in the absence of disease progression or unacceptable toxicity. PROJECTED ACCRUAL: A total of 12-37 patients will be accrued for this study within 3-13 months.