OUTLINE: Patients receive gemcitabine IV over 30 minutes on days 1 and 8. pemetrexed disodium IV is administered over 10 minutes 90 minutes following gemcitabine on day 8. Treatment continues every 21 days for a minimum of 6 courses in the absence of unacceptable toxicity or disease progression. Patients achieving a complete response receive 2 additional courses.