Carboplatin and Paclitaxel in Treating Patients With Locally Recurrent or Metastatic Nasopharyngeal Cancer

You may be eligible if

• DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: Histologically confirmed locally recurrent or metastatic nasopharyngeal carcinoma that is not curable with resection or radiation therapy Bidimensionally measurable disease
• PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: Age: 18 and over Performance status: ECOG 0-1 Life expectancy: Not specified Hematopoietic: Absolute neutrophil count greater than 1500/mm3 Platelet count greater than 100,000/mm3 Hepatic: Bilirubin less than 1.5 mg/dL Renal: Creatinine less than 3.0 mg/dL Other: No active infections Serum calcium within institutional normal range No history of hypercalcemia Prior malignancy other than nasopharyngeal carcinoma allowed No concurrent malignancy Not pregnant or lactating Fertile patients must use effective contraception
• PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY: Biologic therapy: Prior biologic therapy allowed Chemotherapy: No prior chemotherapy for metastatic or recurrent disease Prior induction or adjuvant chemotherapy concurrent with radiation therapy allowed No prior treatment with paclitaxel Endocrine therapy: Not specified Radiotherapy: See Chemotherapy Surgery: Not specified