DHA-Paclitaxel in Treating Patients With Metastatic Pancreatic Cancer

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: * Histologically or cytologically confirmed carcinoma of the pancreas * Metastatic disease * Measurable disease * Lesions within a previously irradiated field are not considered measurable * No islet cell tumors, lymphoma, or sarcoma of the pancreas * No known or clinical evidence of CNS metastasis PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: Age: * 18 and over Performance status: * ECOG 0-1 Life expectancy: * Not specified Hematopoietic: * Absolute neutrophil count at least 1,500/mm\^3 * Platelet count at least 100,000/mm\^3 Hepatic: * Bilirubin no greater than 1.5 times upper limit of normal (ULN) * SGOT or SGPT no greater than 2.5 times ULN Renal: * Creatinine no greater than 1.5 times ULN Cardiovascular: * No uncontrolled ventricular arrhythmia * No myocardial infarction within the past 3 months * No superior vena cava syndrome Neurologic: * No peripheral neuropathy greater than grade 1 * No uncontrolled major seizure disorder * No spinal cord compression Other: * No concurrent serious infection requiring parenteral therapy * No unstable or serious concurrent medical condition * No other prior malignancy except: * Curatively treated nonmelanoma skin cancer or carcinoma in situ of the cervix OR * Other cancer curatively treated with surgery alone that has not recurred for more than 5 years * No psychiatric disorder that would preclude study compliance * Not pregnant or nursing * Negative pregnancy test * Fertile patients must use effective contraception during and for 6 months after study therapy PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY: Biologic therapy: * No concurrent immunotherapy Chemotherapy: * No prior chemotherapy for metastatic disease * Prior adjuvant chemoradiotherapy allowed * At least 28 days since prior chemotherapy and recovered * No other concurrent chemotherapy Endocrine therapy: * No concurrent hormonal therapy except megestrol Radiotherapy: * See Disease Characteristics * Prior adjuvant chemoradiotherapy allowed * At least 28 days since prior large-field radiotherapy and recovered * No concurrent radiotherapy Surgery: * At least 14 days since prior major surgery and recovered Other: * No other concurrent anticancer therapy