Tipifarnib and Radiation Therapy in Treating Patients With Unresectable Locally Advanced Pancreatic Cancer

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: Histologically confirmed pancreatic cancer Locally advanced disease Unresectable disease requiring radiotherapy PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: Age 18 and over Performance status ECOG 0-2 Life expectancy Not specified Hematopoietic Absolute neutrophil count ≥ 1,500/mm^3 Platelet count ≥ 100,000/mm^3 Hepatic AST or ALT < grade 2 elevation Bilirubin ≤ 2.0 mg/dL* NOTE: *Prior biliary stent procedure to normalize bilirubin levels allowed Renal Creatinine ≤ 1.5 times normal Other Not pregnant or nursing Negative pregnancy test Fertile patients must use effective contraception HIV negative No peripheral neuropathy ≥ grade 2 No known allergy to imidazole drugs, including any of the following: Clotrimazole Ketoconazole Miconazole Econazole Fenticonazole Isoconazole Sulconazole Tioconazole Terconazole PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY: Biologic therapy Not specified Chemotherapy At least 4 weeks since prior experimental or standard chemotherapy and recovered No concurrent experimental chemotherapy Endocrine therapy Not specified Radiotherapy No prior upper abdominal radiotherapy Surgery Not specified