Gefitinib in Treating Patients With Locally Advanced Esophageal Cancer

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: * Histologically or cytologically confirmed adenocarcinoma of the esophagus or gastroesophageal junction * Locally advanced disease * T3 or T4 tumor with no lymph node involvement OR any T stage with local lymph node involvement * Celiac node involvement allowed * No supraclavicular lymph node involvement * Received potentially curative chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and/or surgery within the past 1-3 months * Patients who received adjuvant chemotherapy or chemoradiotherapy after surgery are eligible provided last treatment was administered within the past 3 months * No evidence of residual tumor or metastatic disease after undergoing potentially curative therapy * No positive margins at the time of prior surgery * No measurable or evaluable disease PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: Age * 18 and over Performance status * ECOG 0-2 Life expectancy * At least 12 weeks Hematopoietic * Absolute neutrophil count ≥ 1,500/mm\^3 * Platelet count ≥ 100,000/mm\^3 Hepatic * Bilirubin ≤ 2.0 mg/dL Renal * Creatinine ≤ 2 times upper limit of normal Cardiovascular * No New York Heart Association class III or IV heart disease Other * Not pregnant or nursing * Negative pregnancy test * Fertile patients must use effective contraception * Able to swallow study drug * No other malignancy within the past 5 years except adequately treated basal cell or squamous cell skin cancer or noninvasive carcinoma PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY: Biologic therapy * Not specified Chemotherapy * See Disease Characteristics Endocrine therapy * Not specified Radiotherapy * See Disease Characteristics Surgery * See Disease Characteristics Other * No prior gefitinib * No concurrent CYP3A4 inducing agents, including any of the following: * Carbamazepine * Oxcarbazepine * Modafinil * Ethosuximide * Griseofulvin * Nafcillin * Phenobarbital * Phenylbutazone * Phenytoin * Primidone * Rifampin * Hypericum perforatum (St. John's wort) * Sulfinpyrazone * No concurrent antacids 4 hours before or after study drug administration