DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: Histologically or cytologically confirmed adenocarcinoma of the lower esophagus, esophagogastric junction, or gastric cardia that is considered unresectable and for which no curative therapy exists No other conventional forms of therapy available that would offer a reasonable chance of cure or significant palliation Gastric cardia is defined as no greater than 5 cm from the esophagogastric junction into the stomach Measurable disease At least 1 lesion that can be accurately measured in at least 1 dimension as at least 20 mm No nonmeasurable lesions only, including: Bone lesions Leptomeningeal disease Ascites Pleural/pericardial effusion Inflammatory breast disease Lymphangitis cutis/pulmonis Abdominal masses not confirmed and followed by imaging techniques Cystic lesions No known untreated or treated symptomatic CNS metastases