Flavopiridol and Paclitaxel in Treating Patients With Locally Advanced or Metastatic Esophageal Cancer That Has Not Responded to Previous Paclitaxel

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: Histologically confirmed squamous cell carcinoma or adenocarcinoma of the esophagus or carcinoma of the gastroesophageal (GE) junction If tumor extends below the GE junction into the proximal stomach, 50% of the tumor must involve the esophagus or GE junction No gastric cancers with only a minor involvement of the GE junction or distal esophagus Metastatic or locally advanced disease that is considered surgically unresectable Must have failed a prior chemotherapy regimen that included paclitaxel for metastatic disease OR Failed prior combination taxane-based chemotherapy and radiotherapy for locally advanced disease Must have documented evidence of the following: Disease progression while on taxane-based neoadjuvant or adjuvant therapy OR Recurrent disease within 6 months of therapy Measurable disease Accurately measured in at least 1 dimension At least 20 mm by conventional techniques OR At least 10 mm by spiral CT scan The following are considered nonmeasurable: Bone lesions Leptomeningeal disease Ascites Pleural/pericardial effusions Inflammatory breast disease Lymphangitis cutis/pulmonis Abdominal masses that are not confirmed and followed by imaging techniques Cystic lesions No brain metastases PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: Age: 18 and over Performance status: Karnofsky 70-100% Life expectancy: Not specified Hematopoietic: Absolute granulocyte count at least 1,500/mm^3 Platelet count at least 150,000/mm^3 Hepatic: Bilirubin no greater than 1.5 mg/dL Renal: Creatinine no greater than 1.5 mg/dL Cardiovascular: No active angina or myocardial infarction within the past 6 months No significant ventricular arrhythmia requiring antiarrhythmic medication Atrial fibrillation that is well controlled on standard management allowed Other: Not pregnant or nursing Negative pregnancy test Fertile patients must use effective contraception during and for 2 months after study No preexisting peripheral neuropathy of grade 2 or greater No serious concurrent infection No uncontrolled, nonmalignant medical illness that would preclude study HIV negative No other active malignancy within the past 5 years except: Nonmelanoma skin cancer or Carcinoma in situ of the cervix History of T1a or T1b prostate cancer (detected incidentally during transurethral resection of the prostate and comprising less than 5% of resected tissue) allowed if PSA normal since surgery No medical or psychiatric condition that would preclude study compliance PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY: Biologic therapy: No concurrent immunotherapy Chemotherapy: See Disease Characteristics No more than 6 months since prior paclitaxel No other concurrent chemotherapy Endocrine therapy: Not specified Radiotherapy: See Disease Characteristics Prior radiotherapy allowed (indicator lesion must be outside of prior radiation port unless recent evidence of disease progression at that site) No concurrent radiotherapy Surgery: See Disease Characteristics Other: No prior cyclin-dependent kinase or protein kinase C inhibitors for esophageal cancer Recovered from toxic effects of any prior therapy No concurrent vitamins, antioxidants or herbal preparations or supplements