Study of Tissue Samples in Predicting How Well Chemotherapy and Radiation Therapy Will Kill Cancer Cells in Patients With Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Esophagus

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

• Histologically confirmed squamous cell carcinoma of the thoracic esophagus

• Stage IIA, IIB, or III (except T4) disease

• Tumor diameter < 8 cm

• No tumor extension to the cervical esophagus or cardia of the stomach

• No multiple and different histological types of cancer

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

• ECOG performance status 0-1

• WBC ≥ 4,000/mm³

• Absolute neutrophil count ≥ 2,000/mm³

• Platelet count ≥ 100,000/mm³

• Hemoglobin ≥ 10 g/dL

• AST and ALT ≤ 100 IU/L

• Total serum bilirubin ≤ 1.5 mg/dL

• Creatinine ≤ 1.2 mg/dL

• Creatinine clearance ≥ 60mL/min

• SpO_2 (room air) ≥ 95%

• Not pregnant or nursing

• No abnormal ECG findings requiring treatment

• No interstitial pneumonitis or no pulmonary fibrosis

• No severe complication (e.g., heart failure, renal failure, hepatic failure, or uncontrollable diabetes mellitus)

• No collagen disease (e.g., PSS or dermatomyositis)

• No mental disease

• No active bacterial infection

• No virus infection (i.e., HBV, HCV, PTHA, or HIV)

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

• No prior surgery for esophageal cancer

• No prior chemotherapy

• No prior chest radiotherapy