Phase II Trial to Evaluate Gemcitabine and Etoposide for Locally Advanced or Metastatic Pancreatic Cancer

This is a Phase II single-armed study evaluating potential benefits of the gemcitabine and etoposide combination in the treatment of patients with locally advanced or metastatic pancreatic cancer. The study will involve approximately 30-40 adult patients with pancreatic cancer. Response rate, duration of response, overall survival, quality of life and toxicity associated with the combination therapy will be evaluated. Primary Objective To evaluate the response rate of patients with histologically or cytologically confirmed pancreatic cancer, previously untreated with chemotherapy with the exception of 5FU given as part of an adjuvant regimen, who receive the gemcitabine-etoposide combination therapy. Secondary Objectives 1. To evaluate the duration of response in the defined study population. 2. To evaluate the overall survival. 3. To evaluate the quality of life associated with this treatment combination.4.To describe the toxicity profile. 5.To collect clinical specimens from the defined study population for the evaluation of potential molecular correlates of diagnosis, disease progression, treatment outcomes, survival, and/or treatment-associated toxicity by proteomics and microarray technologies.