Radiation Therapy and Docetaxel With Either Fluorouracil or Cisplatin as First-Line Therapy in Treating Patients With Metastatic Pancreatic Cancer That Cannot Be Removed By Surgery

Inclusion Criteria

• •DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:
• •Histologically or cytologically confirmed adenocarcinoma of the pancreas
• •* No other pancreatic tumor type, including either of the following:
• •* Neuroendocrine tumor
• •* Ampulla of Vater carcinoma
• •* Metastatic disease
• •Measurable or evaluable disease
• •Unresectable disease, defined as either of the following:
• •* Failed prior attempt of surgical resection by laparotomy
• •* Surgical resection contraindicated by radiographic criteria (e.g., arterial vascular invasion)
• •No cerebral metastases
• •PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:
• •Age
• •18 to 75
• •Performance status
• •Karnofsky 70-100%
• •Life expectancy
• •Not specified
• •Hematopoietic
• •Absolute neutrophil count ≥ 1,500/mm\^3
• •Platelet count ≥ 100,000/mm\^3
• •Hepatic
• •Bilirubin \< 1.5 times upper limit of normal
• •No hepatic disturbance
• •Renal
• •Creatinine \< 120 mmol/L
• •Cardiovascular
• •No untreated cardiac or coronary insufficiency
• •No uncontrolled symptomatic arrhythmia
• •No uncontrolled angina
• •Pulmonary
• •No uncontrolled respiratory insufficiency
• •Other
• •Not pregnant or nursing
• •Fertile patients must use effective contraception
• •No other malignancy except basal cell skin cancer or carcinoma in situ of the cervix
• •No peripheral neuropathy ≥ grade 2
• •No ongoing active infection
• •No other serious uncontrolled medical disorder that would preclude study treatment
• •PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:
• •Biologic therapy
• •Not specified
• •Chemotherapy
• •No prior chemotherapy
• •Endocrine therapy
• •Not specified
• •Radiotherapy
• •No prior radiotherapy to the celiac or pancreatic area
• •Surgery
• •See Disease Characteristics