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Combination Chemotherapy and Radiation Therapy Before Surgery in Treating Patients With Pancreatic Cancer

Trial Status: complete

This early phase I trial studies how well combination chemotherapy and radiation therapy before surgery works in treating patients with pancreatic cancer. Drugs used in chemotherapy, such as leucovorin calcium, fluorouracil, irinotecan hydrochloride, and oxaliplatin, work in different ways to stop the growth of tumor cells, either by killing the cells or by stopping them from dividing. Stereotactic radiosurgery may be able to send x-rays directly to the tumor and cause less damage to normal tissue. Giving combination chemotherapy and radiation therapy before surgery may make the tumor smaller, prevent the early spread of disease, and reduce the amount of normal tissue that needs to be removed.