Cisplatin, Metronomic Low-Dose Interferon Alfa, Gemcitabine, and Fever-Range Whole-Body Hyperthermia in Treating Patients With Inoperable or Metastatic Pancreatic Cancer

You may be eligible if

• DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:
• Histologically confirmed pancreatic carcinoma
• * Inoperable or metastatic disease
• Measurable lesion by physical examination, CT scan, or MRI
• * Carcinomatous hepatomegaly is considered measurable if a palpable liver edge clearly extends \> 15 cm below the costal margin or xiphoid process
• No known brain metastases by CT scan or MRI
• PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:
• Age
• 18 and over
• Performance status
• Karnofsky 70-100%
• Life expectancy
• At least 12 weeks
• Hematopoietic
• Absolute granulocyte count ≥ 1,500/mm\^3
• Absolute neutrophil count ≥ 1,500/mm\^3
• Hemoglobin \> 10.0 g/dL
• Platelet count ≥ 90,000/mm\^3
• Bone marrow cellularity normal on bone marrow biopsy
• No serious coagulopathy disorder
• Hepatic
• Bilirubin ≤ 2.5 mg/dL
• SGPT and SGOT ≤ 2 times upper limit of normal
• PT \< 14 seconds
• PTT \< 35 seconds
• INR \< 1.5
• Renal
• Creatinine ≤ 1.8 mg/dL
• Creatinine clearance ≥ 45 mL/min
• Blood urea nitrogen ≤ 25 mg/dL
• Cardiovascular
• Adequate cardiovascular function as documented by the following:
• * History and physical examination
• * Stress exercise test (MUGA or echocardiogram) with resting blood pressure, heart rate, and LVEF that increase appropriately with exercise
• * LVEF ≥ 45%
• No myocardial infarction within the past 6 months
• No symptomatic coronary artery disease
• No angina
• No unstable blood pressure
• No congestive heart failure
• No significant arrhythmia
• No conduction disturbance
• No thromboembolic disease
• No uncontrolled hypertension
• Pulmonary
• Complete pulmonary function studies with the following arterial blood gas values:
• * FEV\_1 ≥ 70% of predicted
• * Arterial PO\_2 ≥ 60 mm Hg on room air
• * PCO\_2 appropriate
• * pH appropriate
• No massive (≥ 30%) lung disease
• DLCO \> 50% of predicted
• Other
• No prior or concurrent seizures or other CNS disorders
• No prior malignant hyperthermia after general anesthesia
• No insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus
• No significant emotional instability
• No other medical problem that would preclude treatment with whole-body hyperthermia
• HIV negative
• Not pregnant or nursing
• PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:
• Biologic therapy
• Prior biologic therapy allowed
• Chemotherapy
• No prior cisplatin or gemcitabine
• Endocrine therapy
• No concurrent adrenal corticosteroids
• Radiotherapy
• More than 3 weeks since prior radiotherapy
• Surgery
• More than 6 days since prior major thoracic or abdominal surgery
• Prior surgical resection of tumor with subsequent recurrence allowed
• Other
• No concurrent cardiac glycosides
• No concurrent anti-angina or arrhythmia drugs
• No concurrent thrombolytic agents
• No concurrent anticoagulants
• No concurrent aspirin