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