Bortezomib, Paclitaxel, and Carboplatin in Treating Patients With Unresectable, Metastatic Cancer of the Esophagus or Gastroesophageal Junction

RATIONALE: Bortezomib may stop the growth of tumor cells by blocking some of the enzymes needed for cell growth. Drugs used in chemotherapy, such as paclitaxel and carboplatin, work in different ways to stop the growth of tumor cells, either by killing the cells or by stopping them from dividing. Giving bortezomib together with paclitaxel and carboplatin may kill more tumor cells. PURPOSE: This phase II trial is studying how well giving bortezomib together with paclitaxel and carboplatin works in treating patients with unresectable, metastatic cancer of the esophagus or gastroesophageal junction.