Irinotecan, Cisplatin, Bevacizumab, Radiation Therapy, and Surgery in Treating Patients With Locally Advanced Esophageal Cancer

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: Histologically confirmed adenocarcinoma of the esophagus or gastroesophageal junction T1, N1, M0 or T2-4, any N, M0 esophageal carcinoma that is surgically resectable Disease must be clinically limited to the esophagus or gastroesophageal junction If tumor extends below the gastroesophageal junction into the proximal stomach, 50% of the tumor must involve the distal esophagus or gastroesophageal junction No carcinoma in situ (Tis) or tumors determined to be T1, N0 after endoscopy, endoscopic ultrasound, or CT scan No gastric cancers with minor involvement of the gastroesophageal junction or distal esophagus No metastatic disease, including any of the following: M1a celiac or supraclavicular disease Positive malignant cytology of the pleura, pericardium, or peritoneum Radiographic evidence of distant organ involvement, including lung, liver, bone, or brain No involvement of nonregional lymph nodes including supraclavicular or celiac lymph node metastases that cannot be contained within a radiation field No biopsy-proven tumor invasion of the tracheobronchial tree or presence of tracheoesophageal fistula No recurrent laryngeal nerve or phrenic nerve paralysis No CNS or brain metastases PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: ECOG performance status 0-1 WBC ≥ 3,000/mm³ Absolute neutrophil count ≥ 1,500/mm³ Platelet count ≥ 100,000/mm³ Hemoglobin ≥ 9.0 g/dL INR ≤ 1.5 (except for patients requiring full-dose warfarin while on bevacizumab) Creatinine ≤ 1.5 mg/dL Bilirubin ≤ 1.5 mg/dL AST and ALT < 2.5 times normal Urine protein ≤ 1+ by urinalysis OR < 1 g of protein by 24-hour urine collection Calcium < 12 mg/dL Not pregnant or nursing Negative pregnancy test Fertile patients must use effective contraception No other prior malignancy (except for basal cell or squamous cell carcinoma of the skin, in situ cervical carcinoma, or superficial transitional cell bladder carcinoma) diagnosed and/or treated within the past 3 years No known Gilbert's disease No clinically significant hearing loss No known hypersensitivity to bevacizumab or other study drugs No severe comorbid conditions, including any of the following: Severe uncontrolled diabetes Prior stroke or cerebrovascular disease Uncontrolled infection Nonmalignant illness that precludes study treatment No history of serious systemic disease, including any of the following: Myocardial infarction within the past 6 months Uncontrolled hypertension (i.e., blood pressure > 160/110 mm Hg on medication) Unstable angina New York Heart Association class II-IV congestive heart failure Unstable symptomatic arrhythmia requiring medication Chronic atrial arrhythmia (i.e., atrial fibrillation or paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia) allowed Peripheral vascular disease ≥ grade 2 No significant traumatic injury within the past 28 days No evidence of bleeding diathesis or coagulopathy No other concurrent medical or psychiatric condition or disease that would preclude study participation PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY: No prior radiotherapy Recovered from prior oncologic or other major surgery No major surgery or open biopsy within the past 28 days No fine-needle aspiration or core biopsies within the past 7 days At least 1 week since prior and no concurrent participation in another experimental drug study (unless Genentech sponsored) No other concurrent major surgery No other concurrent chemotherapy No concurrent sargramostim (GM-CSF) No concurrent phenytoin, carbamazepine, barbiturates, rifampin, phenobarbital, Hypericum perforatum (St. John's wort), or other antiepileptic medication