DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

• Histologically proven, previously untreated gastric cancer

  • Stage IB, II, III, or IV (T3-4, N0 OR any T, N1-2, M0)
  • No metastases

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

Age:

• 18 and over

Performance status:

• SWOG 0-2

Life expectancy:

• Not specified

Hematopoietic:

• WBC at least 4000/mm^3
• Platelet count at least 100,000/mm^3
• Hemoglobin at least 9 g/dL

Hepatic:

• Bilirubin less than 2 mg/dL
• SGOT/SGPT no greater than 2 times upper limit of normal (ULN)
• Alkaline phosphatase no greater than 3 times ULN
• PT, aPTT, and TT normal
• No Gilbert's disease

Renal:

• BUN no greater than 30 mg/dL
• Creatinine no greater than 1.5 mg/dL OR
• Creatinine clearance greater than 60 mL/min

Cardiovascular:

• No myocardial infarction within the past 3 months
• No congestive heart failure requiring therapy

Other:

• No other invasive malignancy in the past 5 years except adequately treated basal or squamous cell skin cancer or carcinoma in situ of the cervix
• No active or uncontrolled infection
• HIV negative
• No other severe concurrent disease
• No psychiatric disorders that would preclude compliance
• Not pregnant or nursing
• Negative pregnancy test
• Fertile patients must use effective contraception

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

Biologic therapy:

• Not specified

Chemotherapy:

• No prior chemotherapy for gastric cancer

Endocrine therapy:

• Not specified

Radiotherapy:

• No prior radiotherapy for gastric cancer

Surgery:

• No prior surgery for gastric cancer
• No emergent need for surgery for gastrointestinal obstruction, perforation, or hemorrhage