Fluorouracil Plus Radiation Therapy Following Surgery in Treating Patients With Pancreatic Cancer

You may be eligible if

• DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:
• Histologically confirmed pancreatic adenocarcinoma
• Complete macroscopic resection of tumor within past 30 days
• No residual visceral or peritoneal metastasis
• Involvement of Vater's ampulla or extrahepatic bile duct allowed
• No vesicular or intrahepatic cholangiocarcinomas
• PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:
• Age:
• 18 to 75
• Performance status:
• ECOG 0-2
• Life expectancy:
• Not specified
• Hematopoietic:
• Absolute neutrophil count greater than 1,500/mm\^3
• Platelet count greater than 100,000/mm\^3
• Hepatic:
• Alkaline phosphatase less than 3 times normal
• Bilirubin less than 1.5 times normal
• Renal:
• Creatinine less than 1.5 times normal
• Cardiovascular:
• No serious cardiac failure
• Pulmonary:
• No serious respiratory failure
• Other:
• No other untreatable malignant tumors
• No serious psychological, familial, social, or geographical conditions that would preclude study
• PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:
• Biologic therapy:
• Not specified
• Chemotherapy:
• No prior chemotherapy for pancreatic adenocarcinoma
• Endocrine therapy:
• Not specified
• Radiotherapy:
• No prior radiotherapy for pancreatic adenocarcinoma
• No prior radiotherapy in an anatomically proximal region to treatment area
• Surgery:
• See Disease Characteristics