DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: Histologically proven locally advanced adenocarcinoma of the stomach or gastroesophageal (GE) junction that is potentially curable by surgery Patients with tumors involving the GE junction must have the bulk of their disease in the stomach No tumors of the distal esophagus or GE junction that extend less than 2 cm into the stomach Tumor stage T2, N1-2, M0 OR T3-4, any N, M0 by physical exam, CT scan, and laparoscopy