Perifosine in Treating Patients With Advanced Pancreatic Cancer

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: Histologically or cytologically confirmed adenocarcinoma of the pancreas not amenable to curative local therapy Metastatic OR locally advanced No known brain metastases No ascites that required therapeutic paracentesis on at least 2 occasions within the past 6 weeks PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: Age 18 and over Performance status ECOG 0-2 OR Karnofsky 60-100% Life expectancy Not specified Hematopoietic WBC at least 3,000/mm^3 Absolute neutrophil count at least 1,500/mm^3 Platelet count at least 100,000/mm^3 Hepatic Bilirubin no greater than 2 times upper limit of normal (ULN) AST/ALT no greater than 2.5 times ULN (5 times ULN with liver metastases) Renal Creatinine normal OR Creatinine clearance at least 60 mL/min Cardiovascular No symptomatic congestive heart failure No unstable angina pectoris No cardiac arrhythmia Gastrointestinal No gastrointestinal (GI) tract disease resulting in the inability to take oral medication or a requirement for IV alimentation No uncontrolled inflammatory bowel disease No active peptic ulcer disease Other Not pregnant or nursing Negative pregnancy test Fertile patients must use effective contraception No prior allergic reactions attributed to compounds of similar chemical or biological composition to perifosine No other active malignant disease that could interfere with interpretation of study results No ongoing active infection No other uncontrolled concurrent illness No psychiatric illness or social situation that would preclude study compliance PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY: Biologic therapy Not specified Chemotherapy No more than 1 prior chemotherapy regimen for metastatic or locally advanced disease Prior chemotherapy, given as a radiosensitizer, allowed in addition to single-line therapy At least 3 weeks since prior chemotherapy (6 weeks for nitrosoureas or mitomycin) and recovered Endocrine therapy Not specified Radiotherapy At least 3 weeks since prior radiotherapy likely to have myelotoxic effects (more than 3,000 cGy to fields including substantial marrow) and recovered Surgery No prior GI surgery affecting absorption Other No concurrent antiretroviral therapy for HIV-positive patients No other concurrent investigational agents No other concurrent anticancer agents or therapies