Combination Chemotherapy Followed By Chemoradiotherapy, With or Without Surgery, in Treating Patients With Resectable Locally Advanced Cancer of the Esophagus or Gastroesophageal Junction

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

Histologically confirmed squamous cell carcinoma or adenocarcinoma of the esophagus or gastroesophageal junction

Primary (non-recurrent) disease
Amenable to resection
Stage greater than T1, N0 by endoscopic ultrasound
Must be entirely confined to the esophagus or gastroesophageal junction and periesophageal soft tissue
Tumor may not extend more than 2 cm into the stomach
No multiple primary carcinomas of the esophagus
No cervical esophageal carcinoma or tumors less than 5 cm from cricopharyngeus

No evidence of disseminated cancer

Suggestion of liver metastases by positron emission tomography must be proven negative by biopsy or other imaging studies
Palpable supraclavicular nodes must be negative for cancer by biopsy
Bronchoscopy required for lesions less than 26 cm from the incisors to exclude tracheoesophageal fistula or invasion
No celiac adenopathy greater than 2 cm

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

Age

18 and over

Performance status

Zubrod 0-1

Life expectancy

Not specified

Hematopoietic

Absolute granulocyte count at least 1,500/mm^3
Platelet count at least 150,000/mm^3
Hemoglobin at least 10 g/dL

Hepatic

Not specified

Renal

Creatinine no greater than 1.5 mg/dL AND/OR
Creatinine clearance at least 65 mL/min
Calcium no greater than 11 mg/dL

Cardiovascular

No uncontrolled heart disease
No uncontrolled hypertension

Other

Not pregnant or nursing
Negative pregnancy test
Fertile patients must use effective contraception
Able to comprehend study requirements and considered likely to comply with study parameters
No other malignancy within the past 5 years except curable nonmelanoma skin cancer or carcinoma in situ of the cervix
No uncontrolled diabetes
No hypersensitivity to E. coli-derived products

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

Biologic therapy

Not specified

Chemotherapy

More than 5 years since prior systemic chemotherapy

Endocrine therapy

Not specified

Radiotherapy

No prior chest or upper abdomen radiotherapy

Surgery

No prior esophageal or gastric surgery

Other

No concurrent photodynamic therapy
No other concurrent investigational agents for esophageal carcinoma