A Study of Gemcitabine/Nab-paclitaxel and Radiation Therapy Followed by Surgery in Patients With Advanced Pancreatic Cancer

This is a phase 1 (the first phase in testing a new drug, to see how safe a new drug or new indication/population ) and phase 2 (the second phase in testing a new drug or new indication/population to see how effective the drug is) study of neoadjuvant (treatment before the main treatment) with gemcitabine and nab-paclitaxel (abraxane) and gemcitabine and radiation therapy before surgery and then gemcitabine and nab-paclitaxel after surgery in patients with pancreatic cancer that has grown to involve one of the major artery branches.

Inclusion Criteria: Surgical: * Medically fit for major pancreatic surgery * No evidence of metastases * No prior resection * Arterial involvement limited to a single major vessel and is resectable * Tumour-free margins could be achieved * Acceptable length of vessel * Mass considered otherwise resectable by current standards General: * Less than 70 years old * Performance status \=3 years * Prior radiotherapy or chemo within 1 year, to pancreas * Bone marrow transplant/stem cell rescue * Major surgery \