Neoadjuvant Docetaxel and Cisplatin Plus Chemoradiotherapy Followed By Surgery in Treating Patients With Locally Advanced, Resectable Esophageal Cancer

RATIONALE: Drugs used in chemotherapy, such as docetaxel and cisplatin, use different ways to stop tumor cells from dividing so they stop growing or die. Radiation therapy uses high-energy x-rays to damage tumor cells. Giving combination chemotherapy with radiation therapy before surgery may shrink the tumor so that it can be removed. PURPOSE: This phase II trial is studying how well giving docetaxel and cisplatin together with chemoradiotherapy followed by surgery works in treating patients with locally advanced, resectable esophageal cancer.