Vandetanib, Oxaliplatin, and Docetaxel in Advanced Cancer of the Esophagus or Gastroesophageal Junction

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: * Histologically confirmed advanced adenocarcinoma or squamous cell carcinoma of the esophagus or gastroesophageal junction * Patients with locally advanced, unresectable disease are eligible provided they failed prior radiation-based therapy * At least one measurable lesion * No active CNS metastases as indicated by clinical symptoms, cerebral edema, or progressive growth * Patients with a clinical history of CNS metastases or cord compression are eligible provided they have been definitively treated and are clinically stable for ≥ 4 weeks (if treated with whole brain irradiation) or for ≥ 2 weeks (if treated with gamma knife therapy) PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: * ECOG performance status 0-1 * Life expectancy \> 12 weeks * Hemoglobin \> 9.5 g/dL * ANC \> 1,500/μL * Platelets \> 100,000/μL * Total bilirubin normal * Creatinine \< 1.5 times upper limit of normal (ULN) * Creatinine clearance ≥ 30 mL/min * AST, ALT, and alkaline phosphatase (AP) must meet one of the following criteria: * AST or ALT ≤ 5 times ULN AND AP normal * AST or ALT ≤ 1.5 times ULN AND AP ≤ 2.5 times ULN * AST or ALT normal AND AP ≤ 5 times ULN * Potassium between 4 mmol/L and the upper limit of CTCAE grade 1 (supplementation allowed) * Calcium (ionized or adjusted for albumin) and magnesium normal (supplementation allowed) * Not pregnant or nursing * Negative pregnancy test * Fertile patients must use effective contraception during and for ≥ 3 months after completion of study treatment * No significant cardiovascular events within the past 3 months, including the following: * Myocardial infarction * Superior vena cava syndrome * NYHA class II-IV congestive heart failure * No cardiac disease that, in the opinion of the investigator, may increase the risk of ventricular arrhythmia * No prior arrhythmia (e.g., multifocal premature ventricular contractions, bigeminy, trigeminy, ventricular tachycardia, or uncontrolled atrial fibrillation) that is symptomatic or requires treatment (CTCAE grade 3) * Atrial fibrillation allowed provided it is controlled with medication * No asymptomatic sustained ventricular tachycardia * No hypertension not controlled by medical therapy (i.e., systolic blood pressure \[BP\] \> 160 mm Hg or diastolic BP \> 100 mm Hg) * No QTc prolongation with other medication that required discontinuation of that medication * No congenital long QT syndrome or 1st degree relative with unexplained sudden death under 40 years of age * QTc is \< 480 with Bazett's correction on screening ECG at baseline * No presence of left bundle branch block * No active diarrhea \> CTC grade 1 * No prior severe hypersensitivity reaction to docetaxel or other drugs formulated with polysorbate 80 * No prior allergic reactions to compounds of similar chemical or biologic composition to study drugs * No other severe acute or chronic medical or psychiatric condition or laboratory abnormality that, in the opinion of the investigator, would preclude study participation * No other malignancy within the past 5 years, except for curatively treated basal cell carcinoma of the skin, cervical intra-epithelial neoplasia, or localized prostate cancer with a current PSA of \< 1.0 mg/dL on 2 successive evaluations ≥ 3 months apart, with the most recent evaluation performed within the past 4 weeks * No peripheral neuropathy \> grade 1 * No blood donation during and for 3 months after completion of study treatment * No severe or uncontrolled systemic disease or other medical condition, including mental illness or substance abuse, that would preclude study participation PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY: * See Disease Characteristics * Recovered from prior therapy * No prior systemic therapy for metastatic disease * Prior chemotherapy given as part of a definitive treatment plan (e.g., neoadjuvant or adjuvant chemotherapy or concurrent chemoradiotherapy) allowed * More than 6 months since prior oxaliplatin and docetaxel as neoadjuvant or adjuvant therapy * More than 4 weeks since prior major surgery, chemotherapy, radiotherapy, investigational agents, or other cancer therapy * No prior anti-VEGF or EGFR therapy, including bevacizumab * More than 2 weeks since prior and no concurrent potent CYP3A4 inducers (e.g.,rifampin, rifabutin, phenytoin, carbamazepine, phenobarbital, and Hypericum perforatum \[St. John's wort\]) * More than 2 weeks since prior and no concurrent medications known to cause QTc prolongation or to induce torsades de pointes * No other concurrent chemotherapy, systemic antineoplastic therapy, or investigational therapy * No concurrent radiotherapy, unless for local control of bone pain * No concurrent cold cap or iced mouth rinses for prevention of alopecia or stomatitis * No concurrent routine prophylactic use of granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) or pegfilgrastim * No concurrent vitamin B6 supplementation, except as part of a standard multivitamin