Inclusion Criteria

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

- Histologically confirmed adenocarcinoma of the pancreas

- Measurable metastatic disease No prior treatment for metastatic disease except
immunotherapy (e.g., antibodies, vaccines, cytokines)

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

- Age: 18 and over

- Performance status: ECOG 0-2

- WBC at least 4,000/mm3 OR granulocyte count at least 1,500/mm3

- Platelet count at least 100,000/mm3

- Bilirubin no greater than 2.0 mg/dL

- SGOT/SGPT no greater than 2 times normal

- Creatinine no greater than 2.0 mg/dL OR creatinine clearance at least 50 mL/min

- Not pregnant or nursing

- Fertile patients must use effective contraception during and for 3 months after the
study

- No concurrent illness or active infection which would preclude study

- No prior malignancy allowed unless disease free for the time period considered
appropriate for cure of the specific cancer

- No history of allergies to imidazole compounds (e.g., fluconazole, ketoconazole,
miconazole, itraconazole, clotrimazole)

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

- No prophylactic filgrastim (G-CSF), sargramostim (GM-CSF), or thrombopoietin

- Primary neoadjuvant or adjuvant chemotherapy allowed at least 6 months prior to
detection of metastatic disease

- Primary radiotherapy allowed at least 6 months prior to detection of metastatic
disease

- No concurrent use of proton pump inhibitors (e.g., omeprazole)