Paclitaxel and Radiation Therapy Plus Chemoprotection With Amifostine in Treating Patients With Stage III or Stage IV Head and Neck Cancer

OBJECTIVES: * Determine the maximum tolerated dose of paclitaxel with amifostine and radiotherapy in patients with stage III or IV head and neck cancer. * Determine the toxic effects and complications of this regimen in terms of mucositis reduction in these patients. * Determine the complete response rate and progression-free survival of patients treated with this regimen. * Determine whether amifostine modulates the plasma pharmacokinetics of paclitaxel in these patients. OUTLINE: This is a dose-escalation study of paclitaxel with and without amifostine. Patients receive paclitaxel IV on days 1, 8, 15, 29, 36, and 43 for a total of 3-6 doses. Patients also undergo radiotherapy twice daily for 6 weeks, except for days when paclitaxel is given. Cohorts of 2-5 patients receive escalating doses of paclitaxel until the maximum tolerated dose (MTD) is determined. The MTD is defined as the dose at which 2-3 patients experience dose-limiting toxicity. An additional 10 patients are treated at the MTD. After determination of the MTD for paclitaxel, subsequent patients also receive amifostine IV over 15 minutes on days 1, 8, 29, and 36 and radiotherapy on days 2-5 and 30-33. Determination of the MTD for this drug combination is carried out as with paclitaxel alone. At 4 to 8 weeks after the last treatment of radiotherapy, patients undergo CT scanning to determine response. Patients with residual masses undergo neck dissection. Patients with complete or partial response at the primary site are followed without surgery. Patients are followed every 6 months. PROJECTED ACCRUAL: A maximum of 37 patients will be accrued for this study.