A Phase II Clinical Trial of a Timing/Schedule Optimized Combined-Modality Regimen: Cisplatin + Metronomic Low-Dose Interferon-α (IFN-α) Followed by Gemcitabine HCl (GEMZAR) in Combination With Mild, Fever-Range Whole-Body Hyperthermia (FR-WBH) in Patients With Advanced, Inoperable Pancreatic Cancer

Study start date: July 1, 2002

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: * Histologically confirmed pancreatic carcinoma * Inoperable or metastatic disease * Measurable lesion by physical examination, CT scan, or MRI * Carcinomatous hepatomegaly is considered measurable if a palpable liver edge clearly extends \> 15 cm below the costal margin or xiphoid process * No known brain metastases by CT scan or MRI PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: Age * 18 and over Performance status * Karnofsky 70-100% Life expectancy * At least 12 weeks Hematopoietic * Absolute granulocyte count ≥ 1,500/mm\^3 * Absolute neutrophil count ≥ 1,500/mm\^3 * Hemoglobin \> 10.0 g/dL * Platelet count ≥ 90,000/mm\^3 * Bone marrow cellularity normal on bone marrow biopsy * No serious coagulopathy disorder Hepatic * Bilirubin ≤ 2.5 mg/dL * SGPT and SGOT ≤ 2 times upper limit of normal * PT \< 14 seconds * PTT \< 35 seconds * INR \< 1.5 Renal * Creatinine ≤ 1.8 mg/dL * Creatinine clearance ≥ 45 mL/min * Blood urea nitrogen ≤ 25 mg/dL Cardiovascular * Adequate cardiovascular function as documented by the following: * History and physical examination * Stress exercise test (MUGA or echocardiogram) with resting blood pressure, heart rate, and LVEF that increase appropriately with exercise * LVEF ≥ 45% * No myocardial infarction within the past 6 months * No symptomatic coronary artery disease * No angina * No unstable blood pressure * No congestive heart failure * No significant arrhythmia * No conduction disturbance * No thromboembolic disease * No uncontrolled hypertension Pulmonary * Complete pulmonary function studies with the following arterial blood gas values: * FEV_1 ≥ 70% of predicted * Arterial PO_2 ≥ 60 mm Hg on room air * PCO_2 appropriate * pH appropriate * No massive (≥ 30%) lung disease * DLCO \> 50% of predicted Other * No prior or concurrent seizures or other CNS disorders * No prior malignant hyperthermia after general anesthesia * No insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus * No significant emotional instability * No other medical problem that would preclude treatment with whole-body hyperthermia * HIV negative * Not pregnant or nursing PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY: Biologic therapy * Prior biologic therapy allowed Chemotherapy * No prior cisplatin or gemcitabine Endocrine therapy * No concurrent adrenal corticosteroids Radiotherapy * More than 3 weeks since prior radiotherapy Surgery * More than 6 days since prior major thoracic or abdominal surgery * Prior surgical resection of tumor with subsequent recurrence allowed Other * No concurrent cardiac glycosides * No concurrent anti-angina or arrhythmia drugs * No concurrent thrombolytic agents * No concurrent anticoagulants * No concurrent aspirin