S0356 Oxaliplatin, 5-FU, Radiation Therapy (RT), Surgery for Pts With Stage II or III Cancer of Esophagus or Gastroesophageal (GE) Junction

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

Histologically confirmed primary adenocarcinoma of the thoracic esophagus or gastroesophageal junction

No recurrent disease
Primary esophageal tumor at least 20 cm below the incisors (if < 26 cm below the incisors, a bronchoscopy must be performed and cytology must be negative)
Esophageal disease confined to esophagus and peri-esophageal soft tissue
Gastroesophageal junction disease extending ≤ 2 cm into the gastric cardia

Clinical stage II or III disease by CT scan or MRI

If no esophageal mass is detected by these methods, esophageal endoscopic ultrasound is required to determine stage
Positron-emission tomography scan is required to confirm stage
Measurable or non-measurable disease by x-ray, scanning, or physical examination

No celiac axis nodes ≥ 1.5 cm

Measurable regional lymph nodes ≥ 1.5 cm at stations 2-10=N1 OR subdiaphragmatic lymph nodes at stations 15-19 ≤ 1.5 cm by CT scan or MRI allowed
Palpable supraclavicular lymph nodes must be free of metastatic esophageal cancer by biopsy

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

Age

Over 18

Performance status

Zubrod 0-2

Life expectancy

Not specified

Hematopoietic

Absolute neutrophil count ≥ 1,500/mm^3
White blood cell (WBC) count ≥ 3,000/mm^3
Hemoglobin ≥ 10.0 g/dL (transfusion allowed)

Hepatic

Albumin ≥ 3 g/dL
Bilirubin normal

Renal

Creatinine ≤ 1.5 times upper limit of normal

Cardiovascular

No myocardial infarction or cerebrovascular event within the past 6 months

Pulmonary

No active pneumonia or inflammatory lung infiltrate

Other

No other malignancy within the past 5 years except adequately treated basal cell or squamous cell skin cancer or carcinoma in situ of the cervix
No peripheral neuropathy ≥ grade 2
Not pregnant or nursing
Fertile patients must use effective contraception

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

Biologic therapy

Not specified

Chemotherapy

No prior chemotherapy for esophageal cancer

Endocrine therapy

Not specified

Radiotherapy

No prior radiotherapy for esophageal cancer
No concurrent intensity-modulated radiotherapy

Surgery

No prior surgical resection or attempted surgical resection of esophageal cancer