Flavopiridol and Paclitaxel in Treating Patients With Locally Advanced or Metastatic Esophageal Cancer That Has Not Responded to Previous Paclitaxel

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: * Histologically confirmed squamous cell carcinoma or adenocarcinoma of the esophagus or carcinoma of the gastroesophageal (GE) junction * If tumor extends below the GE junction into the proximal stomach, 50% of the tumor must involve the esophagus or GE junction * No gastric cancers with only a minor involvement of the GE junction or distal esophagus * Metastatic or locally advanced disease that is considered surgically unresectable * Must have failed a prior chemotherapy regimen that included paclitaxel for metastatic disease OR * Failed prior combination taxane-based chemotherapy and radiotherapy for locally advanced disease * Must have documented evidence of the following: * Disease progression while on taxane-based neoadjuvant or adjuvant therapy OR * Recurrent disease within 6 months of therapy * Measurable disease * Accurately measured in at least 1 dimension * At least 20 mm by conventional techniques OR * At least 10 mm by spiral CT scan * The following are considered nonmeasurable: * Bone lesions * Leptomeningeal disease * Ascites * Pleural/pericardial effusions * Inflammatory breast disease * Lymphangitis cutis/pulmonis * Abdominal masses that are not confirmed and followed by imaging techniques * Cystic lesions * No brain metastases PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: Age: * 18 and over Performance status: * Karnofsky 70-100% Life expectancy: * Not specified Hematopoietic: * Absolute granulocyte count at least 1,500/mm\^3 * Platelet count at least 150,000/mm\^3 Hepatic: * Bilirubin no greater than 1.5 mg/dL Renal: * Creatinine no greater than 1.5 mg/dL Cardiovascular: * No active angina or myocardial infarction within the past 6 months * No significant ventricular arrhythmia requiring antiarrhythmic medication * Atrial fibrillation that is well controlled on standard management allowed Other: * Not pregnant or nursing * Negative pregnancy test * Fertile patients must use effective contraception during and for 2 months after study * No preexisting peripheral neuropathy of grade 2 or greater * No serious concurrent infection * No uncontrolled, nonmalignant medical illness that would preclude study * HIV negative * No other active malignancy within the past 5 years except: * Nonmelanoma skin cancer or * Carcinoma in situ of the cervix * History of T1a or T1b prostate cancer (detected incidentally during transurethral resection of the prostate and comprising less than 5% of resected tissue) allowed if PSA normal since surgery * No medical or psychiatric condition that would preclude study compliance PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY: Biologic therapy: * No concurrent immunotherapy Chemotherapy: * See Disease Characteristics * No more than 6 months since prior paclitaxel * No other concurrent chemotherapy Endocrine therapy: * Not specified Radiotherapy: * See Disease Characteristics * Prior radiotherapy allowed (indicator lesion must be outside of prior radiation port unless recent evidence of disease progression at that site) * No concurrent radiotherapy Surgery: * See Disease Characteristics Other: * No prior cyclin-dependent kinase or protein kinase C inhibitors for esophageal cancer * Recovered from toxic effects of any prior therapy * No concurrent vitamins, antioxidants or herbal preparations or supplements