Inclusion Criteria

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

- Histologically or cytologically confirmed adenocarcinoma of the pancreas

- Stage IV disease

- Metastatic disease

- Prior treatment with gemcitabine-based chemotherapy, also in the adjuvant setting,
with progression-free survival at ≤ 12 months

- Measurable disease according RECIST criteria

- No symptomatic brain metastases

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

- Karnofsky performance status 60-100% (80-100% in patients > 70 years of age)

- Adequate bone marrow, liver, and kidney function

- Not pregnant or nursing

- No other prior or concurrent malignancies except surgically cured carcinoma in situ
of the cervix, basal cell or squamous cell carcinoma of the skin, or other neoplasms
with no evidence of disease ≥ 5 years

- No severe comorbidities that could compromise safety, including any of the following:

- Cardiac failure

- Cardiac arrhythmia

- Prior myocardial infarction within the past 4 months

- History of psychiatric disabilities

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

- See Disease Characteristics

- No prior mitomycin C and ifosfamide

- No concurrent treatment with experimental drugs