Docetaxel, Oxaliplatin, Capecitabine, Fluorouracil, and Radiation Therapy in Treating Patients With Locally Advanced Cancer of the Esophagus or Gastroesophageal Junction

Inclusion Criteria

* Histological confirmation of adenocarcinoma of the esophagus, gastroesophageal (GE) junction, or gastric cardia
* Tumor must be considered surgically resectable; Note: patients with T4N0M0 tumors that are potentially resectable are also eligible
* Nodal involvement: patients with involvement of celiac nodes, (stations 15-20) are eligible if the primary lesion is mid-thoracic, distal esophagus or GE junction; patients with supraclavicular node involvement are eligible with upper thoracic esophagus primary lesions
* Capable of swallowing pills
* Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status (PS) 0, 1, or 2
* Absolute neutrophil count (ANC) \>= 1500
* Peripheral platelet count \>= 100,000
* Hemoglobin \>= 9.0 g/dL
* Total bilirubin =\< 1.5 x upper normal limit (UNL)
* Serum glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase (SGOT) (alanine aminotransferase \[AST\]) =\< 3 x UNL
* Creatinine =\< 1.5 x UNL
* Negative pregnancy test done =\< 7 days prior to registration, for women of childbearing potential only
* Provide informed written consent
* Willingness to return to NCCTG enrolling institution for follow-up
* Patient willing to provide mandatory tissue and blood samples for research purposes
* Patient willing to allow use of FDG PET/CT scans for mandatory research purposes

Exclusion Criteria

* Evidence of distant metastases
* Palpable supraclavicular nodes, biopsy-proven involvement of supraclavicular nodes, or radiographically involved supraclavicular nodes (\> 1.5 cm in greatest dimension) for lesions in mid-thoracic, distal thoracic or GE junction
* T1N0M0 or T2N0M0 tumor stage
* Any of the following

  * Pregnant women
  * Nursing women
  * Men or women of childbearing potential who are unwilling to employ adequate contraception
* Co-morbid systemic illnesses or other severe concurrent disease which, in the judgment of the investigator, would make the patient inappropriate for entry into this study or interfere significantly with the proper assessment of safety and toxicity of the prescribed regimens
* Immunocompromised patients (other than that related to the use of corticosteroids) including patients known to be human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) positive
* Uncontrolled intercurrent illness including, but not limited to, ongoing or active infection, symptomatic congestive heart failure, unstable angina pectoris, cardiac arrhythmia, or psychiatric illness/social situations that would limit compliance with study requirements
* Uncontrolled diabetes (i.e., will interfere with the performance of the FDG PET/CT scans)
* Receiving current treatment or prior treatment for this malignancy
* Other active malignancy 5 years prior to registration, except non-melanotic skin cancer or carcinoma-in-situ of the cervix; if there is a history of prior malignancy, patient must not be receiving other specific treatment (other than hormonal therapy) for cancer
* Prior radiation to \> 30% of the marrow cavity