Inclusion Criteria:

1. Signed written informed consent

2. Male or female ≥18 years of age

3. Histologically proven squamous cell carcinoma of the esophagus, which is not
curatively resectable* or locally recurrent disease and both not eligible** for
definitive radiochemotherapy, or clearly metastatic disease (Tx, Nx, M1, locally
unresectable T4, Nx, M0 or TX, N3, M0)* or residual (post-resection) disease not
eligible** for definitive radiochemotherapy

- resectability has to be defined prior to randomization according to local
standards:

The tumor is considered unresectable due to:

T-stage, N-stage, performance status/nutritional status, co-morbidity (pulmonary
function, other), tumor location upper third of the esophagus, relation to other
organs/structures), patient refusal, other reasons.

- eligibility to definitive radiochemotherapy will be determined according to
local standards based on the extent of disease, performance status/nutritional
status, co-morbidity (pulmonary function, other), volume of neighboring organs
within the radiation field, patient refusal, other reasons.

4. Measurable or non-measurable disease according to RECIST 1.1

5. ECOG 0-1

6. Women of child-bearing potential must have a negative pregnancy test

7. Laboratory requirements

- Hematology:

- Absolute neutrophil count ≥1.5x10^9/L

- Platelet count ≥100x10^9/L

- Leukocyte count ≥ 3.0x10^9/L

- Hemoglobin ≥ 9 g/dL or 5.59 mmol/l

- Hepatic Function:

- Total bilirubin ≤ 1.5 time the upper normal limit (UNL)

- AST ≤ 2.5xUNL in absence of liver metastases, or ≤5xUNL in presence of
liver metastases

- ALT ≤ 2.5xUNL in absence of liver metastases, or ≤5xUNL in presence of
liver metastases

- Renal Function:

- Creatinine clearance ≥50 mL/min according to Cockroft-Gault formula

- Metabolic Function

- Magnesium ≥ lower limit of normal

- Calcium ≥ lower limit of normal.

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Previous chemotherapy of esophageal cancer except for neoadjuvant treatment without
recurrence within 6 months after the end of treatment.

2. Concurrent radiotherapy involving target lesions used for this study. Concurrent
palliative radiation for non-target lesions is allowed if other lesions are available
outside the involved field. Previous pre- operative or post-operative radiotherapy
is allowed.

3. Previous exposure to EGFR-targeted therapy

4. Other previous malignancy with exception of a history of a previous curatively
treated basal cell carcinoma of the skin or pre-invasive carcinoma of the cervix or
other curatively treated malignant disease without recurrence after at least 5 years
of follow-up

5. Known brain metastases unless adequately treated (surgery or radiotherapy) with no
evidence of progression and neurologically stable off anticonvulsants and steroids

6. Serious concomitant disease or medical condition that in the judgment of the
investigator renders the subject at high risk of treatment complication or reduces
the probability of assessing clinical effect.

7. Clinically significant cardiovascular disease (including myocardial infarction,
unstable angina, symptomatic congestive heart failure, serious uncontrolled cardiac
arrhythmia) ≤ 1 year before enrolment

8. Inadequate pulmonary function according to the investigator's judgment, history of
interstitial lung disease e.g. pneumonitis or pulmonary fibrosis or evidence of
interstitial lung disease on baseline chest CT scan.

9. Hearing loss ≥ NCI-CTC V.4.03 Grade 3

10. Subject pregnant or breast feeding, or planning to become pregnant within 6 months
after the end of treatment.

11. Subject (male or female) is not willing to use highly effective methods of
contraception (per institutional standard) during treatment and for 6 months (male or
female) after the end of treatment.

12. Contraindications to receive any platin, 5-FU or panitumumab

13. Concurrent treatment with other experimental drugs or participation in another
clinical trial with any investigational drug within 30 days prior to treatment start

14. Known drug abuse/alcohol abuse

15. Peripheral polyneuropathy ≥ NCI-CTC V 4.03 Grade 2

16. Chronic inflammatory bowels diseases

17. Social situations limiting the compliance with the study requirements.