Docetaxel and Irinotecan in Treating Patients With Advanced Cancer of the Esophagus or Stomach

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: Histologically or cytologically confirmed adenocarcinoma of the lower esophagus, esophagogastric junction, or gastric cardia that is considered unresectable and for which no curative therapy exists No other conventional forms of therapy available that would offer a reasonable chance of cure or significant palliation Gastric cardia is defined as no greater than 5 cm from the esophagogastric junction into the stomach Measurable disease At least 1 lesion that can be accurately measured in at least 1 dimension as at least 20 mm No nonmeasurable lesions only, including: Bone lesions Leptomeningeal disease Ascites Pleural/pericardial effusion Inflammatory breast disease Lymphangitis cutis/pulmonis Abdominal masses not confirmed and followed by imaging techniques Cystic lesions No known untreated or treated symptomatic CNS metastases PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: Age: 18 and over Performance status: ECOG 0-2 Life expectancy: At least 12 weeks Hematopoietic: Absolute neutrophil count at least 1,500/mm3 Platelet count at least 100,000/mm3 Hepatic: Bilirubin no greater than upper limit of normal (ULN) AST no greater than ULN (less than 2.5 times ULN if alkaline phosphatase no greater than ULN) Alkaline phosphatase no greater than ULN (4 times ULN if AST no greater than ULN) Renal: Creatinine no greater than 1.5 times ULN Cardiovascular: No New York Heart Association class III or IV heart disease Neurologic: No grade 2 or greater peripheral neuropathy of any etiolog…