Neoadjuvant Paclitaxel Poliglumex, Cisplatin and Radiation for Esophageal Cancer: A Phase II Trial (CTI#X64001)

Inclusion Criteria: * Patients are required to have pathologically confirmed adenocarcinoma or squamous cell carcinoma of the esophagus or gastroesophageal junction * Patients may have celiac adenopathy * There must be no evidence of distant organ metastases * No prior chemotherapy or radiation for esophageal cancer * Patients must be \> 18 years of age, and non pregnant * Patients must have an ANC \> 1,500/ul, platelets \> 100,000/ul, creatinine \< 2.0 and bilirubin \< 1.5 x ULN-ECOG performance status 0-1. * Female patients, must either be not of child bearing potential or have a negative pregnancy test within 14 days of starting study treatment. Patients are considered not of child bearing potential if they are surgically sterile (they have undergone a hysterectomy, bilateral tubal ligation, or bilateral oophorectomy) or they are postmenopausal. Pregnant or lactating females are not eligible * No contraindications to esophagectomy * Signed informed consent Exclusion Criteria: * Active or uncontrolled infection * Patients must not have other coexistent medical condition that would preclude protocol therapy. * Any concurrent chemotherapy not indicated in the study protocol or any other investigational agent(s).