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

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: Age: Not specified Performance status: ECOG 0-2 Life expectancy: Not specified Hematopoietic: Absolute neutrophil count at least 1,500/mm3 Platelet count at least 100,000/mm3 Hemoglobin at least 10 g/dL Hepatic: Bilirubin no greater than 1.5 mg/dL SGOT/SGPT no greater than 2 times upper limit of normal (ULN) Alkaline phosphatase no greater than 2 times ULN Renal: Creatinine no greater than 1.5 mg/dL Creatinine clearance at least 60 mL/min Cardiovascular: No uncontrolled or severe cardiovascular disease No congestive heart failure No myocardial infarction within the past 6 months No severe or uncontrolled hypertension (systolic greater than 150 mmHg and diastolic greater than 100 mmHg) Pulmonary: FEV1/FVC at least 75% predicted Arterial blood saturation at least 92% Other: Not pregnant or nursing Negative pregnancy test Fertile patients must use effective contraception No other malignancy except curatively treated nonmelanoma skin cancer or carcinoma in situ of the cervix No other serious medical illness that would limit survival to fewer than 2 years No active uncontrolled bacterial, viral, or fungal infection No active uncontrolled duodenal ulcer No psychiatric disorder that would preclude study

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY: Biologic therapy: Not specified Chemotherapy: No prior chemotherapy Endocrine therapy: Not specified Radiotherapy: No prior chest radiotherapy Surgery: No prior surgical resection of tumor Other: No prior therapy for esophageal cancer