Margin-Intense Combo Therapy in Pts w/Potentially Resectable Pancreatic Cancer

Inclusion criteria

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: * Pathologically confirmed localized adenocarcinoma of the pancreas or distal common bile duct * Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma or peripancreatic cholangiocarcinoma * Resectable disease, as determined by the Gastrointestinal Cancer Working Group disease-oriented team * Criteria used to define unresectability will include, but not be limited to, the following: * Tumor encases \> 180 degrees of the circumference of the superior mesenteric artery * Tumor encases the common hepatic artery with no anatomic option for reconstruction following segmental resection * Superior mesenteric vein occluded or encased with no option for reconstruction following segmental resection * Soft tissue infiltration of the retroperitoneum to the left of the superior mesenteric artery * All malignant disease must be encompassed within a single radiotherapy field * No metastatic disease PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: * Zubrod performance status 0-1 * Absolute granulocyte count \> 1,500/mm³ * Platelet count \> 100,000/mm³ * Creatinine clearance \> 50mL/min * AST and ALT \< 5 times upper limit of normal * Serum bilirubin \< 5 mg/dL (with biliary decompression) * INR ≤ 1.5 * Not pregnant or nursing * Negative pregnancy test * Fertile patients must use effective contraception * Medically fit for pancreatic surgical resection, as determined by the investigating surgeons at the time of study enrollment * No evidence of an active second invasive malignancy outside the area of the pancreas or biliary system within the past 2 years, except for non-melanomatous skin cancer or carcinoma in situ of the breast, bladder, cervix, or uterus * No clinically significant cardiac disease, including the following: * Uncontrolled hypertension, defined as blood pressure \> 160/90 mm Hg on medication * Myocardial infarction within the past 6 months * NYHA class II-IV congestive heart failure * Unstable symptomatic arrhythmia requiring medication (e.g., chronic atrial arrhythmia \[atrial fibrillation or paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia\]) * Atrial arrhythmia allowed provided it is well-controlled on stable medication * No current or recent (within the past 6 months) unstable angina * No recent (within the past 6 months) arterial thromboembolic events, including transient ischemic attack, cerebrovascular accident, or clinically significant peripheral artery disease * No evidence of bleeding diathesis or coagulopathy * No significant traumatic injury within the past 28 days * No serious nonhealing wound, ulcer, or currently healing fracture * No AIDS * No significant infection or other coexisting medical condition that would preclude study therapy * No gastrointestinal fistula or perforation within the past 10 years PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY: * More than 2 years since prior chemotherapy (other than for pancreaticobiliary cancer) * More than 28 days since prior major surgical procedure or open biopsy * No prior intraabdominal radiotherapy in the planned field of pancreatic margin-intensive radiotherapy * No prior organ transplantation * No concurrent major surgical procedure * No other concurrent cytotoxic chemotherapy or anti-neoplastic biologic agents