Irinotecan and Paclitaxel in Treating Patients With Metastatic or Recurrent Cancer of the Esophagus or Stomach

Inclusion Criteria * Patients with histologic proof of adenocarcinoma of the esophagus (including GE junction) or adenocarcinoma of the stomach will be eligible. * Location of the tumor for assignment to study will be determined by prior endoscopy or barium contrast study. * Patients must have either metastatic or recurrent cancer. * Patients must have bidimensionally measurable disease, as defined in Section 8.4.1.1, page 16. Mediastinal or hilar lymph nodes assessed by CT or MRI scans must be at least 2 cm in the largest dimension to be considered measurable. * Prior limited radiation therapy is permitted. Prior radiotherapy must not have included major bone marrow containing areas (pelvis, lumbar spine), or contained the single evaluable lesion in a radiation field. A recovery period of at least 4 weeks after completion of radiotherapy is required prior to study treatment. * Patients must have an anticipated life expectancy of at least 12 weeks. * Patients must have a performance status of 0 or 1 on the ECOG performance scale. * Patients must be \> 18 years old. * Patients must give written informed consent prior to enrollment. * Patients should have adequate organ function defined as follows: Absolute granulocytes \> 1,500/mm3 and platelets \> 100,000/mm3; serum bilirubin \< 1.5 mg/dL and SGOT \< 3X upper limit of institutional norm; and serum creatinine \< 1.5 mg/dL. * Patients must have recovered from recent surgery. One week must have elapsed from the time of a minor …