No eligibility information available.

Histologically proven diagnosis of primary squamous cell or adenocarcinoma of the esophagus or gastroesophageal junction within 6 weeks prior to registration. Patients with involvement of the gastroesophageal junction with Siewert type I or II tumors (tumors arising from the distal

esophagus and involving the esophagogastric junction or tumors starting at the

esophagogastric junction and involving the cardia) are eligible.53

Disease must be encompassed in a radiotherapy field.

Patients with celiac, perigastric, mediastinal or supraclavicular adenopathy are eligible.

Patients with cervical esophageal carcinoma are eligible.

Stage T1N1M0; T2-4, Any N, M0; Any T, Any N, M1a, based upon the following minimum diagnostic work-up:

History/physical examination within 6 weeks prior to registration

PET/PET-CT scan (strongly recommended) or chest/abdominal CT within 6 weeks prior to registration

EKG within 6 weeks of study entry

Endoscopy with biopsy within 6 weeks of study entry. Patients with T3-4 proximal thoracic esophageal tumors (15-25 cm) must undergo bronchoscopy to exclude fistula. (NOTE: Any images from endoscopic procedures up to the time of progression must be kept in the patient?s confidential study file.)

Zubrod performance status 0-2

Age >= 18

CBC/differential obtained within 2 weeks prior to registration on study, with adequate bone marrow function defined as follows:

Absolute neutrophil count (ANC) >= 1,500 cells/mm3

Platelets >= 100,000 cells/mm3

Hemoglobin >= 8.0 g/dl (Note: The use of transfusion or other intervention to achieve Hgb >= 8.0 g/dl is acceptable.)

Additional laboratory studies obtained within 2 weeks prior to registration on study

Creatinine <= 1.5 mg/dl

Bilirubin <= 1.5 x upper limit of normal

AST <= 3 x upper limit of normal

Serum pregnancy test for women of childbearing potential

Patient?s total intake (oral/enteral) must be >= 1500 kCal/day

Patient must provide study-specific informed consent prior to study entry

Women of childbearing potential and male participants must practice adequate contraception



Conditions for Patient Ineligibility

Evidence of tracheoesophageal fistula, or invasion into the trachea or major bronchi. Patients with T3-4 proximal thoracic esophageal tumors (15-25 cm) must undergo bronchoscopy to exclude fistula.

Prior invasive malignancy (except non-melanomatous skin cancer) unless disease free for a minimum of 2 years (For example, carcinoma in situ of the breast, oral cavity, or cervix are all permissible).

Prior systemic chemotherapy for esophageal cancer; note that prior chemotherapy for a different cancer is allowable. See Section 3.2.2.

Prior radiation therapy that would result in overlap of planned radiation therapy fields.

Prior therapy that specifically and directly targets the EGFR pathway.

Prior platinum-based and/or paclitaxel-based therapy.

Prior allergic reaction to the study drugs involved in this protocol.

Prior severe infusion reaction to a monoclonal antibody.

Severe, active comorbidity, defined as follows:

Unstable angina and/or congestive heart failure requiring hospitalization within the last 3 months

Transmural myocardial infarction within the last 6 months

Acute bacterial or fungal infection requiring intravenous antibiotics at the time of registration

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease exacerbation or other respiratory illness requiring hospitalization or precluding study therapy at the time of registration

Acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) based upon current CDC definition; note, however, that HIV testing is not required for entry into this protocol. The need to exclude patients with AIDS from this protocol is necessary because the treatments involved in this protocol may be significantly immunosuppressive. Protocol-specific requirements may also exclude immunocompromised patients.

Pregnancy or women of childbearing potential and men who are sexually active and not willing/able to use medically acceptable forms of