Paclitaxel in Treating Patients With Unresectable Locally Advanced or Metastatic Pancreatic Cancer

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: * Histologically or cytologically confirmed epithelial carcinoma of the pancreas * Unresectable\* locally advanced or metastatic disease NOTE: \*Documented by high-quality contrast-enhanced CT scan * 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 ≥ 1,500/mm\^3 * Platelet count ≥ 100,000/mm\^3 Hepatic * SGOT or SGPT ≤ 2.5 times upper limit of normal (ULN) * Bilirubin ≤ 1.5 times ULN Renal * Creatinine ≤ 1.5 times ULN Other * Not pregnant or nursing * Negative pregnancy test * Fertile patients must use effective contraception * No other malignancy within the past 5 years except curatively treated nonmelanoma skin cancer or carcinoma in situ * No unstable or serious medical condition * No psychiatric disorder that would preclude giving informed consent PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY: Biologic therapy * Not specified Chemotherapy * No prior chemotherapy for pancreatic cancer * Prior fluorouracil as a radiosensitizer allowed Endocrine therapy * Not specified Radiotherapy * More than 6 weeks since prior radiotherapy for pancreatic cancer * Disease must have progressed after completion of radiotherapy Surgery * More than 14 days since prior major surgery and recovered Other * More than 30 days since prior investigational agents