S0414 Cetuximab, Combo Chemo, and RT in Locally Advanced Esophageal Cancer

You may be eligible if

• DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:
• Histologically confirmed primary squamous cell carcinoma or adenocarcinoma of the thoracic esophagus (≥ 20 cm from the incisors\*) or the gastroesophageal junction (confined to ≤ 2 cm into the gastric cardia)
• * Disease confined to the esophagus or peri-esophageal soft tissue
• * T4, M0 disease
• * Surgically unresectable disease by esophageal endoscopic ultrasonography OR medically unresectable disease
• NOTE: \*Patients with primary disease \< 26 cm from the incisors must undergo bronchoscopy AND have negative cytology within the past 4 weeks
• Measurable or non-measurable disease by x-ray, CT scan and/or MRI, or physical examination within the past 4 weeks (for measurable disease) or within the past 6 weeks (for non-measurable disease)
• Tumor specimens available
• No recurrent disease
• PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:
• Age
• 18 and over
• Performance status
• Zubrod 0-2
• Life expectancy
• Not specified
• Hematopoietic
• Absolute neutrophil count (ANC) ≥ 1,500/mm\^3
• White Blood Cell (WBC) count ≥ 3,000/mm\^3
• Platelet count ≥ 100,000/mm\^3
• Hemoglobin ≥ 10.0 g/dL
• Hepatic
• Albumin normal
• Bilirubin normal
• Alkaline phosphatase normal
• Serum glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase (SGOT) or Serum glutamic pyruvic transaminase (SGPT) ≤ 2.5 times upper limit of normal
• Renal
• Creatinine clearance \> 50 mL/min
• Other
• Not pregnant or nursing
• Fertile patients must use effective contraception
• No prior severe reaction to monoclonal antibodies
• 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
• 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
• No concurrent cobalt-60
• Surgery
• No prior surgical resection or attempted surgical resection of esophageal cancer