Study Comparing Radiochemotherapy With Folfox 4 Regimen or 5FU-Cisplatin in Patients With Inoperable Esophageal Cancer

Inclusion Criteria: Patients with: * Histologically proven adenocarcinoma, squamous cell or adenosquamous carcinoma of the esophagus * Inoperable esophageal carcinoma (disease status: any T, N0 or N1, M0 or M1a) or surgical contraindication conditions * No prior treatment for esophageal cancer (surgery, laser, chemo- or radiotherapy) * Oesophageal dilatation is allowed before or during the treatment, but prior esophageal prosthesis is not allowed * Peripheral neuropathy \<= NCI-CTC grade 1 * Age \>= 18 years * Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status (PS) \<= 2 * Sufficient (oral or with gastrostomy) calorific intake (\> 1000 Kcal/m2/day) * Life expectancy \>= 3 months * Adequate bone marrow reserve, normal renal and liver functions: * Neutrophil count \>= 1500/mm³ * Platelet count \>= 100,000/mm³ * Hemoglobin \>= 10 g/dl (after transfusion, if necessary) * Creatinine levels \<= 1.5 x the upper normal limit of institutional values (ULN) * Total bilirubin level \< 1.5 x ULN * ALT/AST \< 2.5 x ULN * Prothrombin time \>= 60% * Laboratory values obtained the week preceding study entry * Signed informed consent (prior to all study procedures) * Start of treatment within 28 days of inclusion. Exclusion Criteria: * Metastatic disease except for third upper or cervical esophagus tumor with regional nodes, or third lower esophagus tumor with celiac nodes (M1a) * Multiple carcinomas of the esophagus * Small cell or undifferentiated carcinoma of the esophagus * Complete dysphagia (grade 4 NCI-CTC); patient with exclusive parenteral nutrition. * Weight loss \> 20% normal body weight * Pregnant or breast-feeding women * Fertile patient not using adequate contraception * Peripheral sensitive neuropathy with functional impairment * Auditory disorders * History of prior malignancies (other than cured non melanoma skin cancer, cured cervical carcinoma in situ or stage I or II node negative head and neck cancer cured \> 3 years ago) * Prior cervical, thoracic and abdominal radiotherapy with field overlapping the proposed oesophageal radiotherapy field * Tracheo-oesophageal fistula or invasion of the tracheo-bronchial tree * Previous myocardial infarction (inferior or equal to 6 months). Patients with a previous myocardial infarction superior to 6 months, could be included only if: no transient ischemia is shown by thallium myocardial scintigraphy and favourable advice for chemotherapy is obtained from a cardiologist. * Other serious illness or medical conditions (such as symptomatic coronary disease, left ventricular failure or uncontrolled infection) * Arterial disease stage II to IV according to the Leriche and Fontaine classification * Treatment with any other experimental drugs or participation in another clinical trial within 30 days of study screening * Concurrent treatment with any other anti-cancer therapy * Concurrent treatment with phenytoin and yellow fever vaccine; geographical, social or psychological circumstances preventing regular follow-up. The above information is not intended to contain all considerations relevant to a patient's potential participation in a clinical trial.