DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: Histologically or cytologically confirmed adenocarcinoma of the pancreas Ductal adenocarcinoma Mucinous noncystic carcinoma Signet ring cell carcinoma Adenosquamous carcinoma Undifferentiated (anaplastic) carcinoma Mixed ductal endocrine carcinoma Well differentiated adenocarcinoma Moderately well or poorly differentiated adenocarcinoma Undifferentiated ductal carcinoma No papillary cystic carcinomas, sarcomas, or tumors arising from the endocrine pancreas Pathological confirmation of a metastatic site allowed Clinical documentation of pancreatic involvement and no evidence of another primary allowed Locally advanced or distant metastatic disease surgically incurable No known brain metastases