Irinotecan, Cisplatin, Bevacizumab, Radiation Therapy, and Surgery in Treating Patients With Locally Advanced Esophageal Cancer

Inclusion criteria

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: * Histologically confirmed adenocarcinoma of the esophagus or gastroesophageal junction * T1, N1, M0 or T2-4, any N, M0 esophageal carcinoma that is surgically resectable * Disease must be clinically limited to the esophagus or gastroesophageal junction * If tumor extends below the gastroesophageal junction into the proximal stomach, 50% of the tumor must involve the distal esophagus or gastroesophageal junction * No carcinoma in situ (Tis) or tumors determined to be T1, N0 after endoscopy, endoscopic ultrasound, or CT scan * No gastric cancers with minor involvement of the gastroesophageal junction or distal esophagus * No metastatic disease, including any of the following: * M1a celiac or supraclavicular disease * Positive malignant cytology of the pleura, pericardium, or peritoneum * Radiographic evidence of distant organ involvement, including lung, liver, bone, or brain * No involvement of nonregional lymph nodes including supraclavicular or celiac lymph node metastases that cannot be contained within a radiation field * No biopsy-proven tumor invasion of the tracheobronchial tree or presence of tracheoesophageal fistula * No recurrent laryngeal nerve or phrenic nerve paralysis * No CNS or brain metastases PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: * ECOG performance status 0-1 * WBC ≥ 3,000/mm³ * Absolute neutrophil count ≥ 1,500/mm³ * Platelet count ≥ 100,000/mm³ * Hemoglobin ≥ 9.0 g/dL * INR ≤ 1.5 (except for patients requiring full-dose warfarin while on bevacizumab) * Creatinine ≤ 1.5 mg/dL * Bilirubin ≤ 1.5 mg/dL * AST and ALT \< 2.5 times normal * Urine protein ≤ 1+ by urinalysis OR \< 1 g of protein by 24-hour urine collection * Calcium \< 12 mg/dL * Not pregnant or nursing * Negative pregnancy test * Fertile patients must use effective contraception * No other prior malignancy (except for basal cell or squamous cell carcinoma of the skin, in situ cervical carcinoma, or superficial transitional cell bladder carcinoma) diagnosed and/or treated within the past 3 years * No known Gilbert's disease * No clinically significant hearing loss * No known hypersensitivity to bevacizumab or other study drugs * No severe comorbid conditions, including any of the following: * Severe uncontrolled diabetes * Prior stroke or cerebrovascular disease * Uncontrolled infection * Nonmalignant illness that precludes study treatment * No history of serious systemic disease, including any of the following: * Myocardial infarction within the past 6 months * Uncontrolled hypertension (i.e., blood pressure \> 160/110 mm Hg on medication) * Unstable angina * New York Heart Association class II-IV congestive heart failure * Unstable symptomatic arrhythmia requiring medication * Chronic atrial arrhythmia (i.e., atrial fibrillation or paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia) allowed * Peripheral vascular disease ≥ grade 2 * No significant traumatic injury within the past 28 days * No evidence of bleeding diathesis or coagulopathy * No other concurrent medical or psychiatric condition or disease that would preclude study participation PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY: * No prior radiotherapy * Recovered from prior oncologic or other major surgery * No major surgery or open biopsy within the past 28 days * No fine-needle aspiration or core biopsies within the past 7 days * At least 1 week since prior and no concurrent participation in another experimental drug study (unless Genentech sponsored) * No other concurrent major surgery * No other concurrent chemotherapy * No concurrent sargramostim (GM-CSF) * No concurrent phenytoin, carbamazepine, barbiturates, rifampin, phenobarbital, Hypericum perforatum (St. John's wort), or other antiepileptic medication