Cetuximab, Oxaliplatin, Fluorouracil, and Radiation Therapy in Treating Patients With Stage II or Stage III Esophageal Cancer

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: * Histologically confirmed squamous cell carcinoma of the esophagus, meeting the following criteria: * Locally advanced disease (T3-T4, N0-N+ \[T2, N0 for cervical esophageal carcinoma\]) * Potentially resectable disease * No distant metastases (M1b) * No tumor infiltration of the tracheobronchial system * Bartels preoperative risk analysis \< 22 PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: * ECOG performance status (PS) 0-1 or Karnofsky PS 70-100% * Creatinine ≤ 1.5 mg/dL OR creatinine clearance \> 60 mL/min * Bilirubin ≤ 1.5 mg/dL * ALT and AST ≤ 2 times upper limit of normal (ULN) * Alkaline phosphatase ≤ 2 times ULN * WBC ≥ 3,000/mm³ * Granulocyte count ≥ 2,000/mm³ * Platelet count ≥ 100,000/mm³ * No pre-existing polyneuropathy \> grade 1 * No active uncontrolled infection * PaO\_2 ≥ 60 mm Hg on room air * FEV\_1 ≥ 60% of normal * No New York Heart Association class II-IV cardiac insufficiency * Ejection fraction ≥ 35% * No angina pectoris (at rest or under stress) unexplained by interventional cardiology * No myocardial infarction within the past 6 months * No histologically confirmed liver cirrhosis * No other malignancy within the past 5 years except carcinoma in situ of the cervix or nonmelanomatous skin cancer * Not pregnant or nursing * Negative pregnancy test * Fertile patients must use effective contraception PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY: * No prior chemotherapy * No prior radiotherapy to the thorax region * No current esophageal stent