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