S9915 Triacetyluridine, Fluorouracil, and Leucovorin in Treating Patients With Unresectable, Locally Advanced, or Metastatic Cancer of the Esophagus or Stomach

You may be eligible if

• DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:
• Histologically or cytologically proven unresectable, locally advanced or metastatic adenocarcinoma of the stomach or gastroesophageal junction
• No known brain metastases
• * Negative brain imaging required for neurologic signs and symptoms
• PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:
• Age:
• 18 and over
• Performance status:
• Zubrod 0-1
• Life expectancy:
• Not specified
• Hematopoietic:
• Absolute neutrophil count at least 1,500/mm\^3
• Platelet count greater than 100,000/mm\^3
• Hepatic:
• Bilirubin no greater than upper limit of normal (ULN)
• SGOT or SGPT no greater than 1.5 times ULN (5 times ULN if liver tumor present)
• Renal:
• Creatinine no greater than ULN
• Other:
• Not pregnant or nursing
• Fertile patients must use effective contraception
• Must be able to swallow oral medication
• No AIDS syndrome or HIV-associated complex
• No other malignancy within the past 5 years except adequately treated basal cell or squamous cell skin cancer, carcinoma in situ of the cervix, or adequately treated stage I or II cancer in complete remission
• PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:
• Biologic therapy:
• No prior biologic therapy
• No concurrent biologic therapy
• Chemotherapy:
• No prior chemotherapy for advanced or metastatic gastric cancer
• At least 6 months since prior chemotherapy as adjuvant or radiation sensitizer
• Endocrine therapy:
• Not specified
• Radiotherapy:
• At least 1 month since prior radiotherapy and recovered
• No concurrent radiotherapy
• Surgery:
• At least 3 weeks since prior major surgical resection of intra-abdominal organs and recovered