DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: Histologically confirmed, newly diagnosed locally advanced adenocarcinoma or squamous cell carcinoma of the esophagus Evidence of disease extension into or through the wall of the esophagus (T2- T4) and/or regional nodal metastases (N1) Patients with distant metastatic disease or who cannot undergo resection may also be treated on the phase I portion of this trial but are not eligible for the modified phase II portion Patients entered in the modified phase II portion of the trial must have evaluable (measurable in one dimension) or measurable disease at the primary site