Dolastatin 10 in Treating Patients With Metastatic Pancreatic Cancer

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: Histologically confirmed metastatic adenocarcinoma of the pancreas Bidimensionally measurable lesions with sentinel lesions outside field of any prior radiation therapy No brain metastases PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: Age: 18 and over Performance status: Zubrod 0-1 Life expectancy: At least 12 weeks Hematopoietic: Absolute granulocyte count at least 1500/mm3 Platelet count at least 100,000/mm3 Hepatic: Bilirubin no greater than 1.5 mg/dL Renal: Creatinine no greater than 1.5 mg/dL Cardiovascular: No active congestive heart failure No uncontrolled angina At least 6 months since prior myocardial infarction No uncontrolled hypertension Other: Not pregnant or nursing Fertile patients must use effective contraception No concurrent serious infection At least 5 years since prior malignancy except the following: Nonmelanoma skin cancer Carcinoma in situ of the cervix No overt psychosis or mental disability PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY: Biologic therapy: No concurrent biologic therapy Chemotherapy: No prior chemotherapy for metastatic disease At least 6 months since prior adjuvant chemotherapy No concurrent chemotherapy Endocrine therapy: Not specified Radiotherapy: See Disease Characteristics At least 6 months since prior adjuvant chemoradiation to disease At least 2 weeks since prior radiotherapy and recovered No concurrent radiotherapy Surgery: At least 4 weeks since prior surgery and recovered No concurrent surgery Other: At least 4 weeks since prior investigational drug (including analgesics or antiemetics) No other concurrent anticancer therapy