Nitrocamptothecin Compared With Other Chemotherapy in Treating Patients With Recurrent or Refractory Cancer of the Pancreas

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: Histologically or cytologically proven adenocarcinoma of the pancreas with failure or relapse after at least 1 prior chemotherapy regimen Ineligible if only prior chemotherapy regimen consisted of gemcitabine alone or fluorouracil as a radiosensitizer No prior nitrocamptothecin or other camptothecin analogs

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: Age: Over 18 Performance status: Karnofsky 50-100% Life expectancy: At least 8 weeks Hematopoietic: Granulocyte count greater than 1,500/mm3 Hemoglobin greater than 9 g/dL Platelet count greater than 100,000/mm3 Hepatic: SGOT and SGPT no greater than 3 times normal (5 times normal if liver tumor present) Bilirubin no greater than 2.0 mg/dL Renal: Creatinine no greater than 2.0 mg/dL Other: Not pregnant or nursing Negative pregnancy test Fertile patients must use effective contraception

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY: Biologic therapy: At least 2 weeks since prior immunotherapy and recovered No concurrent filgrastim (G-CSF) with nitrocamptothecin No concurrent anticancer immunotherapy Chemotherapy: See Disease Characteristics At least 2 weeks since prior chemotherapy and recovered No other concurrent anticancer chemotherapy Endocrine therapy: No concurrent anticancer hormonal therapy Radiotherapy: At least 2 weeks since prior radiotherapy and recovered No concurrent anticancer radiotherapy Surgery: At least 2 weeks since prior surgery and recovered No planned major surgery within 8 weeks after initiation of treatment