Gefitinib in Treating Patients With Esophageal Cancer That is Progressing After Chemotherapy

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: * Histologically confirmed esophageal cancer or gastroesophageal junction tumor including the following subtypes: * Adenocarcinoma * Squamous cell cancer * Poorly differentiated epithelial malignancy * Gastroesophageal junction with Siewert type I or II tumors * Failure after no more than 2 prior chemotherapy regimens and 1 chemoradiation course * Measurable or evaluable disease by CT scan * Patients with brain metastases must be stable and have received cranial irradiation prior to entry PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: * WHO performance status 0-2 * Serum bilirubin ≤ 3 times the upper limit of normal (ULN) * AST/ALT ≤ 2.5 times ULN (≤ 5 x in presence of liver metastases) * Able to take oral tablets (whole or dispersed) * No evidence of clinically active interstitial lung disease (patients with chronic, stable, radiographic changes who are asymptomatic allowed) * No known severe hypersensitivity to gefitinib or any of the excipients of this product * No prior other malignancy likely to confound results or interfere with gefitinib therapy * No medical condition considered to interfere with the safe participation in the trial * Not pregnant * Fertile patients must use effective contraception PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY: * See Disease Characteristics * No chemotherapy (including oral) within the past 6 weeks * No radiotherapy to site of measurable or evaluable disease within the past 4 weeks * No other concurrent cytotoxic chemotherapy, immunotherapy…