Inclusion Criteria

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

- Histologically proven adenocarcinoma of the stomach

- Stage IB, II, IIIA, IIIB, and IV (T2-3, any N, M0)

- No lymph node metastases outside the field of resection (e.g.,
supraclavicular, mediastinal, or paraaortic nodes)

- Potentially resectable

- May involve the gastroesophageal junction, but bulk of tumor must be in the
stomach

- No distant metastases

- No pleural or pericardial effusion

- No peritoneal disease diagnosed by laparoscopy

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

Age:

- Not specified

Performance status:

- Zubrod 0-2

Life expectancy:

- At least 16 weeks

Hematopoietic:

- Absolute granulocyte count greater than 2,000/mm^3

- Platelet count greater than 100,000/mm^3

Hepatic:

- Bilirubin no greater than 1.5 mg/dL

Renal:

- Creatinine less than 1.5 mg/dL

Cardiovascular:

- No New York Heart Association class III or IV heart disease

- No hypertension

Neurologic:

- No cerebrovascular disease

- No diabetic neuropathy

- No mental status abnormalities

Other:

- No uncontrolled diabetes

- No infection

- No other malignancies within past 5 years except resected squamous cell or basal cell
skin cancer

- Not pregnant or nursing

- Fertile patients must use effective contraception

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

Biologic therapy:

- No prior immunotherapy

Chemotherapy:

- No prior chemotherapy

Endocrine therapy:

- Not specified

Radiotherapy:

- No prior radiotherapy to stomach

Surgery:

- No prior surgery to stomach