OBJECTIVES: I. Compare the efficacy of CYTOIMPLANT (intratumor implants of allogeneic peripheral blood mononuclear cells sensitized against patient alloantigens by mixed lymphocyte culture) vs gemcitabine in patients with unresectable, locally advanced or metastatic pancreatic cancer. II. Compare the overall survival, progression free survival, objective tumor response, time to treatment failure, and quality of life of these patients. III. Compare the safety and toxicities of CYTOIMPLANT vs gemcitabine in these patients.