OBJECTIVES: I. Determine the safety and toxicity of vaccination with MUC-1 antigen and immunologic adjuvant SB AS-2 in patients with resected or locally advanced unresectable pancreatic cancer. II. Determine the maximum tolerated dose and/or recommended phase II dose of MUC-1 antigen in this patient population. III. Determine the qualitative and quantitative tumor response to this treatment in these patients. IV. Determine the disease-free survival in resected patients, progression-free survival in locally advanced unresectable patients, and overall survival in all patients receiving this treatment.