Gemcitabine and Oxaliplatin in Treating Patients With Pancreatic Cancer That Can Be Removed By Surgery

You may be eligible if

• DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:
• Histologically or cytologically confirmed pancreatic adenocarcinoma
• * No histology other than adenocarcinoma (e.g., neuroendocrine cancer or acinar cancer)
• * Patients with adenosquamous variants are eligible
• Radiographically resectable pancreatic cancer, as determined by a surgical oncologist
• * No metastatic or locally unresectable pancreatic adenocarcinoma
• No evidence of distant metastases by CT scan
• * Negative or pending laparoscopy for distant metastases
• PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:
• ECOG performance status 0-2
• Absolute neutrophil count ≥ 1,500/mm³
• Platelet count ≥ 100,000/mm³
• Bilirubin ≤ 4.0 mg/dL (if \> 3.0, stented and known to be declining)
• Serum creatinine ≤ 1.6 mg/dL
• INR \< 1.5 (therapeutic INR is allowed for patients receiving therapeutic anticoagulation)
• Not pregnant or nursing
• Negative pregnancy test
• Fertile patients must use effective contraception during and for 3 months after completion of study therapy
• No active infection, except for resolving cholangitis, that would preclude study enrollment
• * Neoadjuvant therapy may only be initiated when acute cholangitis has resolved
• No other malignancy within the past 3 years except for curatively treated basal cell carcinoma of the skin, cervical intraepithelial neoplasia, or localized prostate cancer with a PSA of \< 5.0 ng/mL within ≥ 4 weeks of study entry (other circumstances with a recent concurrent or active malignancy will be adjudicated on a case-by-case basis by the principle investigator \[PI\] or co-PI)
• No known hypersensitivity to any of the components of oxaliplatin or gemcitabine
• No hypersensitivity to CT scan IV contrast dye not suitable for premedication
• No peripheral neuropathy ≥ grade 2
• No known HIV or hepatitis B or C infection (active, previously treated, or both)
• No other medical condition, including mental illness or substance abuse that, deemed by the investigator, would preclude study participation
• PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:
• More than 4 weeks since prior radiotherapy
• No prior radiotherapy to \> 25% of bone marrow
• More than 30 days since prior and no other concurrent investigational therapy
• No other prior therapy for pancreatic cancer
• No other concurrent chemotherapy, immunotherapy, or radiotherapy during neoadjuvant therapy
• Concurrent low molecular weight heparin or warfarin, where medically indicated, allowed