Inclusion Criteria

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

- Histologically or cytologically confirmed pancreatic adenocarcinoma

- No histology other than adenocarcinoma (e.g., neuroendocrine cancer or acinar
cancer)

- Patients with adenosquamous variants are eligible

- Radiographically resectable pancreatic cancer, as determined by a surgical oncologist

- No metastatic or locally unresectable pancreatic adenocarcinoma

- No evidence of distant metastases by CT scan

- Negative or pending laparoscopy for distant metastases

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

- ECOG performance status 0-2

- Absolute neutrophil count ≥ 1,500/mm³

- Platelet count ≥ 100,000/mm³

- Bilirubin ≤ 4.0 mg/dL (if > 3.0, stented and known to be declining)

- Serum creatinine ≤ 1.6 mg/dL

- INR < 1.5 (therapeutic INR is allowed for patients receiving therapeutic
anticoagulation)

- Not pregnant or nursing

- Negative pregnancy test

- Fertile patients must use effective contraception during and for 3 months after
completion of study therapy

- No active infection, except for resolving cholangitis, that would preclude study
enrollment

- Neoadjuvant therapy may only be initiated when acute cholangitis has resolved

- No other malignancy within the past 3 years except for curatively treated basal cell
carcinoma of the skin, cervical intraepithelial neoplasia, or localized prostate
cancer with a PSA of < 5.0 ng/mL within ≥ 4 weeks of study entry (other circumstances
with a recent concurrent or active malignancy will be adjudicated on a case-by-case
basis by the principle investigator [PI] or co-PI)

- No known hypersensitivity to any of the components of oxaliplatin or gemcitabine

- No hypersensitivity to CT scan IV contrast dye not suitable for premedication

- No peripheral neuropathy ≥ grade 2

- No known HIV or hepatitis B or C infection (active, previously treated, or both)

- No other medical condition, including mental illness or substance abuse that, deemed
by the investigator, would preclude study participation

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

- More than 4 weeks since prior radiotherapy

- No prior radiotherapy to > 25% of bone marrow

- More than 30 days since prior and no other concurrent investigational therapy

- No other prior therapy for pancreatic cancer

- No other concurrent chemotherapy, immunotherapy, or radiotherapy during neoadjuvant
therapy

- Concurrent low molecular weight heparin or warfarin, where medically indicated,
allowed