Patient description: A 58-year-old nonsmoker white female with mild exertional dyspnea and occasional cough is found to have a left lung mass on chest x-ray. She is otherwise asymptomatic. A neurologic examination is unremarkable, but a CT scan of the head shows a solitary mass in the right frontal lobe.

Clinical trial eligibility criteria: eligible ages (years): 18.0-999.0,  Metastatic Pancreas Cancer Histologically documented metastatic pancreatic adenocarcinoma not previously treated with palliative systemic therapy Metastatic disease based on the presence of clinically and/or radiologically documents Measurable disease base on Adequate tissue (core biopsy) available for IHC testing of hENT1. This may be from primary tumour or metastatic site. Fine needle aspiration biopsies will not be allowed. Histological/cytological confirmation of tissue to ensure sufficient material is available for hENT1 analysis by the Cross Cancer Institute is required prior to starting a patient on study. Biopsies from metastatic sites must be obtained ≥ 3 months after any adjuvant chemotherapy (if applicable). If a patient has had previous surgical resection of their primary tumours, that tissue can be utilized. Tissue sufficient for preparing ≥ 10 unstained slides for central storage and testing is required ECOG performance status of 0 Age ≥ 18 years Life expectancy of at least 3 months based on discretion of treating oncologist Adequate hematologic function defined by the following laboratory parameters Hemoglobin ≥ 100 Platelet count ≥ 100 Absolute granulocyte count ≥ 1.5  Patients who have received prior palliative chemotherapy for their metastatic pancreatic adenocarcinoma Radical pancreatic resections (e.g. Whipple procedure) are not allowed < 6 months prior to randomization. Exploratory laparotomy, palliative (e.g. bypass) surgery, or other procedures (e.g. stents) are not allowed < 14 days prior to randomization. In any of the above cases, patients must be adequately recovered and stable prior to randomization Prior treatment with > 6 cycles of traditional alkylating agent-based chemotherapy, > 2 cycles of carboplatin-based chemotherapy, prior treatment with irinotecan or oxaliplatin chemotherapy, or concurrent treatment with other experimental drugs or anti-cancer therapy Curative radiation treatment to the pelvis or radiation therapy to ≥ 25% of bone marrow stores Lack of physical integrity of the upper gastrointestinal tract, malabsorption syndrome, short gut syndrome, or history of bowel obstruction due to peritoneal metastases Previous or concurrent malignancies, excluding curatively treated in situ carcinoma of the cervix or non-melanoma skin cancer, unless at least 5 years have elapsed since last treatment and the patient is considered cured Any serious medical condition within 6 months prior to study entry such as myocardial infarction, uncontrolled congestive heart failure, unstable angina, active cardiomyopathy, unstable ventricular arrhythmia, cerebrovascular diseases, uncontrolled hypertension, uncontrolled diabetes, uncontrolled psychiatric disorder, serious infection, active peptic ulcer disease, or other medical condition that may be aggravated by treatment Known dihydropyrimidine dehydrogenase (DPD) deficiency Pre-existing neuropathy ≥ grade 2 from any cause Patients with unstable metastasis to the central nervous system are excluded. Patients who have treated brain metastasis and are off steroids, anticonvulsants, and have documented stability of lesions for at least 3 months may be eligible. A CT scan or MRI is NOT required to rule out brain metastases unless there is clinical suspicion of CNS involvement