RATIONALE: Drugs used in chemotherapy use different ways to stop tumor cells from dividing so they stop growing or die.

PURPOSE: Phase II trial to study the effectiveness of combining docetaxel and irinotecan in treating patients who have advanced cancer of the esophagus or stomach.

OBJECTIVES: I. Determine the objective tumor response rate in patients with advanced adenocarcinoma of the lower esophagus, esophagogastric junction, and gastric cardia treated with docetaxel and irinotecan. II. Determine time to progression and overall survival of patients treated treated with this regimen. III. Determine the toxic effects of this regimen in these patients. IV. Assess treatment response in these patients by determining the prevalence of dysphagia, anorexia, and swallowing ability at diagnosis and during treatment with this regimen.

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: Histologically or cytologically confirmed adenocarcinoma of the lower esophagus, esophagogastric junction, or gastric cardia that is considered unresectable and for which no curative therapy exists No other conventional forms of therapy available that would offer a reasonable chance of cure or significant palliation Gastric cardia is defined as no greater than 5 cm from the esophagogastric junction into the stomach Measurable disease At least 1 lesion that can be accurately measured in at least 1 dimension as at least 20 mm No nonmeasurable lesions only, including: Bone lesions Leptomeningeal disease Ascites Pleural/pericardial effusion Inflammatory breast disease Lymphangitis cutis/pulmonis Abdominal masses not confirmed and followed by imaging techniques Cystic lesions No known untreated or treated symptomatic CNS metastases

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: Age: 18 and over Performance status: ECOG 0-2 Life expectancy: At least 12 weeks Hematopoietic: Absolute neutrophil count at least 1,500/mm3 Platelet count at least 100,000/mm3 Hepatic: Bilirubin no greater than upper limit of normal (ULN) AST no greater than ULN (less than 2.5 times ULN if alkaline phosphatase no greater than ULN) Alkaline phosphatase no greater than ULN (4 times ULN if AST no greater than ULN) Renal: Creatinine no greater than 1.5 times ULN Cardiovascular: No New York Heart Association class III or IV heart disease Neurologic: No grade 2 or greater peripheral neuropathy of any etiology No uncontrolled seizure disorder Other: Not pregnant or nursing Negative pregnancy test Fertile patients must use effective contraception Ability to complete questionnaires alone or with assistance No uncontrolled infection No chronic debilitating disease No other prior malignancy within the past 5 years except adequately treated basal cell or squamous cell skin cancer or other noninvasive carcinoma

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY: Biologic therapy: No prior immunotherapy or biologic therapy for recurrent or metastatic disease No concurrent biologic therapy No concurrent filgrastim (G-CSF) as primary prophylaxis Chemotherapy: Prior adjuvant chemotherapy after complete resection of original tumor allowed Prior neoadjuvant chemotherapy allowed No prior chemotherapy for recurrent or metastatic disease No other concurrent chemotherapy Endocrine therapy: Not specified Radiotherapy: Prior adjuvant radiotherapy after complete resection of original tumor allowed Prior neoadjuvant radiotherapy allowed At least 4 weeks since prior radiotherapy No prior radiotherapy for recurrent or metastatic disease No prior radiotherapy to more than 25% of bone marrow No concurrent radiotherapy except to CNS Surgery: See Disease Characteristics Prior surgical resection of primary tumor allowed At least 4 weeks since prior abdominal exploration with resection (3 weeks without resection)