DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

• Histologically confirmed Barrett's esophagus (BE)

  • Metaplasia with or without low-grade dysplasia OR indeterminate for dysplasia

    • No high-grade dysplasia
  • Short-segment (≤ 3 cm) BE allowed provided the area is large enough to allow adequate tissue sampling without completely resecting the metaplasia
  • Diagnosed within the past 12 months
• No invasive carcinoma of the esophagus

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

Age

• 18 and over

Performance status

• ECOG 0-2 OR
• Karnofsky 60-100%

Life expectancy

• Not specified

Hematopoietic

• WBC ≥ 3,000/mm^3
• Absolute neutrophil count ≥ 1,500/mm^3
• Platelet count ≥ 100,000/mm^3

Hepatic

• Bilirubin normal
• AST and ALT normal
• Alkaline phosphatase normal

Renal

• Creatinine normal

Cardiovascular

• No symptomatic congestive heart failure
• No unstable angina pectoris
• No cardiac arrhythmia

Other

• Not pregnant or nursing
• Negative pregnancy test
• Fertile patients must use effective contraception
• No history of allergic reactions attributed to compounds of similar chemical or biologic composition to green tea extract (Polyphenon E)
• No history of esophageal strictures with moderate-to-severe dysphagia or odynophagia that may interfere with ingestion and/or swallowing of the study drug
• No active or serious infection requiring IV antibiotics
• No active gastrointestinal bleeding

• No active malignancy within the past 5 years except for the following:

  • Basal cell or squamous cell skin cancer
  • Carcinoma in situ
  • Stage IA or IB invasive squamous cell carcinoma of the cervix treated with surgery and/or radiotherapy
  • Stage IA grade 1 endometrial adenocarcinoma treated with surgery
• No psychiatric illness or social situation that would preclude study compliance
• No other uncontrolled or significant co-morbid illness that would preclude study participation

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

Biologic therapy

• Not specified

Chemotherapy

• No concurrent chemotherapy

Endocrine therapy

• Not specified

Radiotherapy

• No concurrent radiotherapy

Surgery

• No prior mucosal ablation, resection, or esophagectomy for BE

Other

• At least 1 month since prior endoscopic evaluation
• More than 30 days since prior investigational agents
• More than 30 days since prior and no concurrent medications, herbs, vitamins, or mineral supplements containing tea compounds
• Concurrent proton pump inhibitors, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory agents, and celecoxib or rofecoxib allowed
• No other prior endoscopic therapy for BE, including photodynamic therapy
• No other concurrent investigational agents
• No tea consumption while on study drug