Calcitriol and Docetaxel in Treating Patients With Metastatic or Locally Advanced Pancreatic Cancer

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: * Diagnosis of pancreatic cancer * Locally advanced or metastatic disease PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: Age * Over 18 Performance status * Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) 0-2 Life expectancy * Not specified Hematopoietic * White blood cell (WBC) \> 3,000/mm\^3 * Absolute neutrophil count \> 1,500/mm\^3 * Platelet count \> 100,000/mm\^3 * Hemoglobin ≥ 8.0 g/dL (transfusion allowed) Hepatic * Bilirubin \< 1.5 times upper limit of normal (ULN) * Alkaline phosphatase (AP) \< 5.0 times ULN * Alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and Aspartate aminotransferase (AST) \< 2.5 times ULN (if AP \< 2.5 times ULN) OR * ALT and AST \< 1.5 times ULN (if AP \> 2.5 times ULN and \< 5.0 times ULN) Renal * Creatinine \< 1.3 mg/dL * Calcium \< 10.5 mg/dL * Phosphate \< 4.7 mg/dL * No kidney stones within the past 5 years * No history of hypercalcemia Cardiovascular * No myocardial infarction within the past 3 months * No uncontrolled heart failure with a known ejection fraction \< 30% * No other significant heart disease Other * Not pregnant or nursing * Fertile patients must use effective contraception * No hypersensitivity to docetaxel or other drugs formulated with polysorbate 80 * No peripheral neuropathy ≥ grade 2 * No comorbid condition that would preclude study participation PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY: Biologic therapy * Not specified Chemotherapy * No prior chemotherapy for metastatic disease * No prior chemoradiotherapy for locally advanced disease * No prior adjuvant docetaxel * Other prior adjuvant chemotherapy allowed Endocrine therapy * Not specified Radiotherapy * See Chemotherapy * More than 2 weeks since prior radiotherapy Surgery * More than 30 days since prior investigational surgery Other * More than 7 days since prior and no concurrent digoxin or thiazide diuretic therapy * More than 30 days since prior investigational therapy * No concurrent magnesium-containing antacids, bile resin-binding drugs, or calcium supplements