OBJECTIVES: I. Determine the survival rate at 6 months of patients with stage III or IV unresectable adenocarcinoma of the pancreas treated with 6-hydroxymethylacylfulvene (MGI 114). II. Determine the objective tumor response rate, time to objective tumor response, and duration of response in these patients (if retrospective data is available, time to tumor progression while on prior gemcitabine is determined). III. Determine the clinical benefit of MGI 114 as measured by pain improvement, performance status, and weight. IV. Determine the survival rate at 3, 9, and 12 months in these patients. V. Gain additional information on the toxic effects and safety profile of this regimen.