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

You may be eligible if

• 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