Paclitaxel, Cisplatin, and Filgrastim Combined With Radiation Therapy in Treating Patients With Locally Recurrent Head and Neck Cancer

Inclusion Criteria

• •DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:
• •Histologically proven locally recurrent primary squamous cell cancer (SCC) of the head and neck or second primary SCC of the head and neck
• •* More than 1 prior recurrence allowed if the first recurrence occurred at least 6 months after completion of prior radiotherapy
• •Disease must be confined to the head and neck (above the clavicles)
• •No primary SCC of the nasopharynx or salivary gland
• •Prior irradiation of 45-75 Gy to the majority (75% or greater) of tumor volume
• •Entire tumor volume must be included in a treatment field that limits the total spinal cord dose (prior and anticipated) to 50 Gy
• •* Prior radiotherapy records, including simulation and portal films, available in order to assure that cord tolerance is not exceeded
• •Measurable disease
• •Ineligible for complete surgical resection
• •No distant metastases
• •PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:
• •Age:
• •18 and over
• •Performance status:
• •Zubrod 0 or 1
• •Life expectancy:
• •No other concurrent illness that would limit survival
• •Hematopoietic:
• •Granulocyte count at least 1,500/mm\^3
• •Platelet count at least 100,000/mm\^3
• •Hepatic:
• •Bilirubin no greater than 1.5 mg/dL
• •Serum glutamate oxaloacetate transaminase (SGOT) and serum glutamate pyruvate transaminase (SGPT) no greater than 2 times normal\*
• •Alkaline phosphatase no greater than 2 times normal\*
• •\* Greater than 2 times normal allowed if no metastases by liver ultrasound or CT scan
• •Renal:
• •Creatinine no greater than 1.5 mg/dL
• •Other:
• •No other invasive malignancy within the past 2 years except in situ malignancies (e.g., carcinoma in situ of the cervix, carcinoma in situ of the breast, or nonmelanoma skin cancer)
• •No other concurrent illness that would impair tolerance to therapy
• •No grade 2 or worse pre-existing peripheral sensory neuropathy
• •No hypersensitivity to E. coli derived products
• •Not pregnant or nursing
• •Fertile patients must use effective contraception
• •PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:
• •Biologic therapy:
• •Not specified
• •Chemotherapy:
• •Prior chemotherapy allowed as a component of the primary treatment
• •No prior chemotherapy for recurrent disease
• •At least 6 months since prior chemotherapy
• •Endocrine therapy:
• •Not specified
• •Radiotherapy:
• •See Disease Characteristics
• •At least 6 months since prior radiotherapy
• •Surgery:
• •See Disease Characteristics