Inclusion Criteria:

• * Pathologically confirmed primary squamous cell or adenocarcinoma of the esophagus that involves the mid, distal or esophagogastric junction. The cancer may involve the stomach up to 5 cm.
• * Endoscopy with biopsy
• * Stage T1N102, T2-3N0-2 according to the American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) 7th edition staging, based upon the following minimum diagnostic work-up:
• History/physical examination with documentation of patient's weight within 30 days of registration
• Chest/Abdominal/Pelvic contrast CT within 56 days of registration
• Whole body PET/CT within 56 days of registration
• Endoscopic ultrasound
• Patients may have regional adenopathy including para-esophageal, gastric, gastroheptaic and celiac nodes. If celiac adenopathy present, it must be ≤ 2cm.
• Patients with tumors at the level of the carina or above should undergo bronchoscopy to exclude fistula
• Pulmonary function test (including routine spirometry and DLCO) within 60 days prior to registration
• Serum creatinine ≤ 2 x the upper limit of normal within 4 weeks of registration
• Na, K, BUN, Glucose within 4 weeks prior to registration
• CBC/differential within 4 weeks prior to registration with adequate bone marrow function, defined as follows:
• * Absolute neutrophil count (ANC) ≥ 1,500 cells/mm3
• * Platelets ≥ 100,000 cell/mm3
• * Hemoglobin ≥ 8.0 g/dl (Note: the use of transfusion or other intervention to achieve Hgb ≥ 8.0 is acceptable.)
• Adequate liver function, defined as total bilirubin ≤ 1.5 x upper limit of normal, AST ≤ 3 x the upper limit of normal within 4 weeks of registration
• Age ≥ 18
• Zubrod performance status 0-2 within 4 weeks of registration
• Surgical consultation to confirm that patient will be able to undergo curative resection after completion of PCT prior to registration
• For women of childbearing potential, a negative serum pregnancy test within 14 days prior to registration
• Women of childbearing potential and male participants must practice adequate contraception while on study
• Patient must sign study specific informed consent prior to study entry

Exclusion Criteria:

• Patients with cervical esophageal carcinoma
• Patients with T1N0 disease and T4 disease
• Prior radiation for esophageal cancer or prior chest radiotherapy
• Prior chemotherapy for esophageal cancer
• Evidence of tracheoesophageal fistula or invasion into the trachea or major bronchi
• Prior invasive malignancy (except non-melanomatous skin cancer), unless disease free for a minimum of 2 years ( e.g. carcinoma in situ of breast, oral cavity, or cervix are permissible)
• Prior radiotherapy that would results in overlap of radiation fields
• Medical contraindications to esophagectomy
• Prior allergic reaction to paclitaxel or carboplatin
• Severe, active co-morbidity that may impact survival
• Pregnancy, nursing women, or women of child bearing potential, and men who are sexually active and not willing/able to use medically acceptable forms of contraception
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