Docetaxel, Cisplatin, and Radiation Therapy in Treating Patients With Locally Advanced Esophageal Cancer That Cannot Be Removed By Surgery

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: * Histologically confirmed esophageal cancer, including the gastroesophageal junction * Squamous cell or adenocarcinoma * Unresectable disease * Meets 1 of the following staging criteria by endoscopic ultrasound: * Cervical (supraclavicular) lesion, meeting 1 of the following stages: * TX, N+ disease * T3-4, NX disease * TX, NX, M1a\* disease * Thoracic (celiac) lesion, meeting 1 of the following stages: * Unresectable T4, NX disease * TX, NX, M1a\* disease * Locally advanced resectable tumors, inoperable due to medical reasons NOTE: \*M1a requires unequivocal abnormality on staging CT scan/endosonography * No T1-2, N0 disease * All tumors encompassable in 1 radiation field * No tumor with esophagotracheal fistula PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: Performance status * WHO 0-1 Life expectancy * Not specified Hematopoietic * Neutrophil count ≥ 1,500/mm\^3 * Platelet count ≥ 100,000/mm\^3 Hepatic * AST ≤ 1.5 times upper limit of normal (ULN) * Bilirubin normal * Alkaline phosphatase ≤ 2.5 times ULN Renal * Creatinine clearance \> 60 mL/min Cardiovascular * No myocardial infarction within the past 3 months * No New York Heart Association class III or IV congestive heart failure * No unstable angina pectoris * No significant arrhythmias * No other severe cardiovascular disease Immunologic * No uncontrolled active infection * No active autoimmune disease Other * Not pregnant or nursing * Negative pregnancy test * Fertile patients must use effective contraception during and for 12 months after completion of study treatment * No definite contraindication to corticosteroids * No uncontrolled diabetes mellitus * No pre-existing peripheral neuropathy \> grade 1 * No significant neurologic or psychiatric disorder, including psychotic disorders, dementia, or seizures, that would preclude giving informed consent * No other serious underlying medical condition that would preclude study participation * No other prior or concurrent malignancy except nonmelanoma skin cancer or adequately treated carcinoma in situ of the cervix PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY: Chemotherapy * No prior chemotherapy Radiotherapy * No prior radiotherapy to the chest Other * More than 30 days since prior experimental treatment in another clinical trial * No other concurrent experimental drugs