OBJECTIVES: I. Determine response rates, duration of response, and performance status in patients with stage I-III esophageal cancer after treatment with cisplatin, fluorouracil, interferon alfa, and leucovorin calcium. II. Determine toxicities of this regimen in these patients. III. Determine relapse and survival rates in this patient population treated with this regimen. IV. Determine response rates, duration of response, performance status, and relapse and survival rates for inoperable candidates in this patient population treated with this regimen followed by radiotherapy. V. Determine the toxicities of this regimen followed by radiotherapy in these patients. VI. Evaluate recurrence following this treatment regimen in this patient population. VII. Compare roentgenographic and ultrasound responses to histopathologic responses with this regimen in this patient population. VIII. Evaluate the effects of this regimen and its relation to the ability to achieve negative surgical margins and evaluate the extent of multifocality, nodal disease, tumor size, and tumor grade. IX. Determine the incidence of perioperative complications following this regimen, including surgical as well as operative time, blood loss, perioperative transfusions, and length of hospital stay.