Capecitabine, Oxaliplatin, and Radiation Therapy in Treating Patients With Esophageal or Gastroesophageal Junction Cancer

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

Histologically or cytologically confirmed adenocarcinoma of the esophagus or gastroesophageal junction

Stage I-IVA disease
No distant metastatic disease (other than regional lymph nodes)

No evidence of CNS metastases

CNS metastases stable for > 3 months allowed

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

ECOG performance status 0-2
Consuming ≥ 1,500 calories daily
ANC ≥ 1,500/mm³
Platelet count ≥ 100,000/mm³
Bilirubin ≤ 1.5 times upper limit of normal (ULN)
SGOT ≤ 2.5 times ULN
Creatinine ≤ 1.5 times ULN OR creatinine clearance ≥ 50 mL/min
Not pregnant or nursing
Negative pregnancy test
Fertile patients must use effective contraception
No pre-existing neuropathy
No prior unanticipated severe reaction to fluoropyrimidine therapy
No known hypersensitivity to fluorouracil
No known DPD deficiency
No known hypersensitivity to any of the components of oxaliplatin
No significant active infection or other severe complicated medical illness
No clinically significant cardiac disease (e.g., congestive heart failure, symptomatic coronary artery disease, or cardiac arrhythmias not well controlled with medication)
No myocardial infarction within the past 12 months
No history of uncontrolled seizures, CNS disorders, or psychiatric disability judged by the investigator to be clinically significant, precluding informed consent, or interfering with compliance of oral drug intake
No malabsorption syndrome
No other active malignancy within the past 3 years except cervical carcinoma in situ or nonmelanoma skin cancer

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

More than 4 weeks since prior participation in any investigational drug study
No prior pelvic or thoracic radiotherapy