Paclitaxel, Cisplatin, Gefitinib, and Radiation Therapy Followed by Surgery and Gefitinib in Treating Patients With Locally Advanced Cancer of the Esophagus or Gastroesophageal Junction That Can Be Removed By Surgery

Inclusion Criteria:

* Histologically confirmed adenocarcinoma of the esophagus or gastroesophageal junction meeting the following criteria:

  * Newly diagnosed disease
  * Surgically resectable tumor
  * Primary esophageal tumor \< 20 cm below the incisors
  * Tumor extending ≤ 2 cm into the cardia
* Stage T2-3, N0-1, M0-1a tumor, as determined by imaging studies and biopsy

  * Documentation by endoscopic ultrasound, endoscopy, and CT scan of the chest and abdomen required
  * Any lesion suspicious for metastasis must be biopsied
  * M1a disease (i.e., celiac nodal metastasis) is allowed if other eligibility criteria are met
  * T4 disease (i.e., involvement of the pleura, pericardium, or diaphragm) allowed provided it is considered resectable
* No CNS metastasis
* ECOG performance status 0-1
* Granulocyte count \> 1,000/mm³
* Platelet count \> 75,000/mm³
* Creatinine clearance \> 60 mL/min
* Total bilirubin \< 1.5 mg/dL
* No concurrent illness likely to preclude protocol therapy or surgical resection
* Not pregnant or nursing
* Negative pregnancy test
* Fertile patients must use effective contraception during and for 3 months after completion of study therapy Exclusion Criteria
* Known severe hypersensitivity to gefitinib or any of its excipients
* Evidence of severe or uncontrolled systemic disease (e.g., unstable or uncompensated respiratory, cardiac, hepatic, or renal disease)
* Evidence of other significant clinical disorder or laboratory finding that would preclude study participation
* Evidence of clinically active interstitial lung disease
* Chronic, stable radiographic changes that are asymptomatic are eligible
* Prior or concurrent malignancy except basal cell or squamous cell skin cancer, cervical cancer, or any other curatively treated malignancy from which the patient has been disease-free and has a survival prognosis of \> 5 years
* Preexisting peripheral neuropathy \> grade 1
* Incomplete healing from prior oncologic or other major surgery
* Prior chemotherapy, radiotherapy, or surgery for this cancer
* More than 30 days since prior nonapproved or investigational drugs
* Concurrent phenytoin, carbamazepine, barbiturates, rifampin, phenobarbital, or Hypericum perforatum (St. John's wort)
* Concurrent oral retinoids