S0101 Gemcitabine and Irinotecan in Treating Patients With Metastatic or Recurrent Cancer of the Esophagus

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: * Histologically confirmed metastatic or recurrent carcinoma of the esophagus or gastroesophageal junction * Squamous cell carcinoma OR * Adenocarcinoma * No known brain metastases PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: Age: * 18 to 100 Performance status: * Zubrod 0-2 Life expectancy: * Not specified Hematopoietic: * Granulocyte count at least 1,500/mm\^3 * Platelet count at least 100,000/mm\^3 Hepatic: * Not specified Renal: * Creatinine no greater than 1.5 times upper limit of normal Cardiovascular: * No uncontrolled hypertension * No unstable angina * No symptomatic congestive heart failure * No myocardial infarction within the past 6 months * No serious uncontrolled cardiac arrhythmia Gastrointestinal: * No active inflammatory bowel disease * No significant bowel obstruction * No chronic diarrhea Other: * Not pregnant or nursing * Fertile patients must use effective contraception * No active infection requiring systemic therapy * No other prior malignancy within the past 5 years except adequately treated basal cell or squamous cell skin cancer, carcinoma in situ of the cervix, or adequately treated stage I or II cancer in complete remission PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY: Biologic therapy: * At least 28 days since prior biologic therapy * No prior biologic therapy for metastatic or recurrent disease * No concurrent sargramostim (GM-CSF) * No concurrent immunotherapy for tumor Chemotherapy: * At least 28 days since prior chemotherapy * No prior chemotherapy for metastatic or recurrent disease * No prior gemcitabine or irinotecan * Prior adjuvant or neoadjuvant chemotherapy at time of initial diagnosis of localized disease allowed * No other concurrent chemotherapy for tumor Endocrine therapy: * See Disease Characteristics * At least 28 days since prior endocrine therapy * No prior endocrine therapy for metastatic or recurrent disease * No concurrent hormonal therapy for tumor Radiotherapy: * At least 28 days since prior radiotherapy * No prior radiotherapy for metastatic or recurrent disease * Prior adjuvant or neoadjuvant radiotherapy at time of initial diagnosis of localized disease allowed * No concurrent radiotherapy for tumor Surgery: * Prior thoraco-abdominal surgery allowed * At least 3 weeks since prior surgery and recovered Other: * No other concurrent anti-cancer therapy for tumor