Study of Tissue Samples in Predicting How Well Chemotherapy and Radiation Therapy Will Kill Cancer Cells in Patients With Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Esophagus

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: * Histologically confirmed squamous cell carcinoma of the thoracic esophagus * Stage IIA, IIB, or III (except T4) disease * Tumor diameter \< 8 cm * No tumor extension to the cervical esophagus or cardia of the stomach * No multiple and different histological types of cancer PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: * ECOG performance status 0-1 * WBC ≥ 4,000/mm³ * Absolute neutrophil count ≥ 2,000/mm³ * Platelet count ≥ 100,000/mm³ * Hemoglobin ≥ 10 g/dL * AST and ALT ≤ 100 IU/L * Total serum bilirubin ≤ 1.5 mg/dL * Creatinine ≤ 1.2 mg/dL * Creatinine clearance ≥ 60mL/min * SpO\_2 (room air) ≥ 95% * Not pregnant or nursing * No abnormal ECG findings requiring treatment * No interstitial pneumonitis or no pulmonary fibrosis * No severe complication (e.g., heart failure, renal failure, hepatic failure, or uncontrollable diabetes mellitus) * No collagen disease (e.g., PSS or dermatomyositis) * No mental disease * No active bacterial infection * No virus infection (i.e., HBV, HCV, PTHA, or HIV) PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY: * No prior surgery for esophageal cancer * No prior chemotherapy * No prior chest radiotherapy