Gemcitabine With or Without Dalteparin in Treating Patients With Unresectable or Metastatic Pancreatic Cancer

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

• Histologically or cytologically confirmed pancreatic adenocarcinoma or poorly differentiated carcinoma of the pancreas that is considered ineligible for curative resection

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

Age:

• 18 and over

Performance status:

• Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group 0-2

Life expectancy:

• Not specified

Hematopoietic:

• White Blood Cell count greater than 3,500/mm^3
• Platelet count greater than 100,000/mm^3
• No clinically significant bleeding disorder
• No prior heparin-induced thrombocytopenia

Hepatic:

• Bilirubin less than 2.0 mg/dL
• aspartate aminotransferase less than 3 times normal

Renal:

• Creatinine less than 2.0 mg/dL

Cardiovascular:

• No prior hemorrhagic stroke
• No uncontrolled hypertension (sustained blood pressure greater than 200 mm Hg systolic or 110 mm Hg diastolic)

Other:

• Not pregnant or nursing
• Negative pregnancy test
• Fertile patients must use effective contraception
• No other active malignancy
• No gastrointestinal bleeding within the past 30 days
• No contraindications to anticoagulation

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

Biologic therapy:

• Not specified

Chemotherapy:

• No prior chemotherapy for metastatic disease
• Prior adjuvant chemotherapy allowed

Endocrine therapy:

• Not specified

Radiotherapy:

• At least 4 weeks since prior radiotherapy and recovered

Surgery:

• Prior surgical resection allowed
• At least 4 weeks since prior surgery with non-curative intent and recovered
• More than 30 days since prior neurologic or ophthalmologic surgery

Other:

• At least 2 weeks since prior low-molecular-weight heparin
• More than 30 days since prior experimental therapeutic agent
• No concurrent heparin or warfarin for pre-existing condition