Combination Chemotherapy Plus Radiation Therapy in Treating Patients With Locally Advanced Unresectable Pancreatic Cancer

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: Histologically or cytologically confirmed locally advanced pancreatic cancer Regional (peri-pancreatic) lymph node involvement allowed Clinically or surgically staged and considered unresectable or inoperable PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: Age: 18 and over Performance status: ECOG 0-2 Life expectancy: More than 6 months Hematopoietic: Granulocyte count at least 1,500/mm3 Hemoglobin at least 10 g/dL Platelet count at least 100,000/mm3 Hepatic: Not specified Renal: Creatinine no greater than 2.0 mg/dL Other: Not pregnant Fertile patients must use effective contraception No other concurrent or prior malignancy within the past 2 years except nonmelanoma skin cancer or in situ carcinoma of the cervix or breast No other serious medical or psychiatric illness that would preclude giving informed consent or limit survival to less than 2 years PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY: Biologic therapy: No concurrent anticancer immunotherapy Chemotherapy: No prior chemotherapy No other concurrent anticancer chemotherapy Endocrine therapy: No concurrent anticancer hormonal therapy Radiotherapy: No prior abdominal-pelvic radiotherapy No other concurrent anticancer radiotherapy Surgery: See Disease Characteristics At least 3 weeks since prior open abdominal surgery More than 10 days since prior laparoscopy Other: No other concurrent investigational drug No concurrent participation in other clinical study