Inclusion Criteria

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

- Histologically confirmed gastric or gastroesophageal junction adenocarcinoma

- Locally advanced unresectable or metastatic disease

- Measurable disease, defined as ≥ 1 unidimensionally measurable lesion ≥ 20 mm by
conventional techniques OR ≥ 10mm by spiral CT scan

- Bone metastases, ascites, or pleural effusions are not considered measurable
disease

- Evaluable disease must be present outside previously irradiated field

- No CNS or brain metastases

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

Age

- 18 and over

Performance status

- SWOG 0-1

Life expectancy

- Not specified

Hematopoietic

- Absolute neutrophil count ≥ 1,500/mm^3

- Platelet count ≥ 100,000/mm^3

- Hemoglobin ≥ 10 mg/dL

- No evidence of bleeding diathesis or coagulopathy

Hepatic

- AST and ALT ≤ 2.5 times upper limit of normal (ULN)

- Alkaline phosphatase ≤ 2.5 times ULN

- Bilirubin ≤ ULN

- INR < 1.5

Renal

- Creatinine < 2.0 mg/dL

- Urine protein:creatinine ratio < 1.0

Cardiovascular

- No history of deep venous thrombosis requiring anticoagulation

- No active angina

- No myocardial infarction within the past year

- No cerebrovascular accident within the past year

- No uncontrolled hypertension (systolic blood pressure [BP] > 170 mm Hg and/or
diastolic BP > 100 mm Hg) despite medical management

Other

- Not pregnant or nursing

- Negative pregnancy test

- Fertile patients must use effective contraception during and for 3 months after
completion of study treatment

- No peripheral neuropathy > grade 1

- No history of allergy to any of the study drugs or drugs formulated with polysorbate
80

- No known HIV infection

- No active peptic ulcer disease

- No serious non-healing wound, ulcer, or bone fracture

- No unresolved bacterial infection requiring antibiotics

- No other active malignancy within the past 3 years except for cancers that have been
treated with a curative intent

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

Biologic therapy

- No concurrent immunotherapy

Chemotherapy

- No prior chemotherapy for gastric cancer unless disease relapsed > 6 months after
completion of non-taxane adjuvant chemotherapy

- No other concurrent chemotherapy

Endocrine therapy

- Not specified

Radiotherapy

- See Disease Characteristics

- At least 3 weeks since radiotherapy

Surgery

- At least 4 weeks since prior surgery or open biopsy (except indwelling venous
catheter placement)

- No concurrent surgery

Other

- At least 4 weeks since prior and no concurrent participation in another experimental
drug trial

- No concurrent full-dose anticoagulation

- No concurrent experimental drugs