Inclusion Criteria

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: Histologically confirmed squamous cell carcinoma or
adenocarcinoma of the upper, middle, or lower third esophagus Stage I, II, or III disease
Measurable disease No distant metastases Negative liver biopsy Negative bone scan unless
due to benign disease No tracheobronchial involvement No vocal cord paralysis No phrenic
nerve involvement No celiac axis lymph node involvement unless due to primary cancer at
gastroesophageal junction No evidence of disseminated cancer

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: Age: Not specified Performance status: ECOG 0-2 Life expectancy:
Not specified Hematopoietic: Absolute neutrophil count at least 1,500/mm3 Platelet count
at least 100,000/mm3 Hemoglobin at least 10 g/dL Hepatic: Bilirubin no greater than 1.5
mg/dL SGOT/SGPT no greater than 2 times upper limit of normal (ULN) Alkaline phosphatase
no greater than 2 times ULN Renal: Creatinine no greater than 1.5 mg/dL Creatinine
clearance at least 60 mL/min Cardiovascular: No uncontrolled or severe cardiovascular
disease No congestive heart failure No myocardial infarction within the past 6 months No
severe or uncontrolled hypertension (systolic greater than 150 mmHg and diastolic greater
than 100 mmHg) Pulmonary: FEV1/FVC at least 75% predicted Arterial blood saturation at
least 92% Other: Not pregnant or nursing Negative pregnancy test Fertile patients must use
effective contraception No other malignancy except curatively treated nonmelanoma skin
cancer or carcinoma in situ of the cervix No other serious medical illness that would
limit survival to fewer than 2 years No active uncontrolled bacterial, viral, or fungal
infection No active uncontrolled duodenal ulcer No psychiatric disorder that would
preclude study

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY: Biologic therapy: Not specified Chemotherapy: No prior
chemotherapy Endocrine therapy: Not specified Radiotherapy: No prior chest radiotherapy
Surgery: No prior surgical resection of tumor Other: No prior therapy for esophageal
cancer