S0007 - Combination Chemotherapy in Treating Patients With Metastatic or Recurrent Head and Neck Cancer

You may be eligible if

• DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:
• Histologically confirmed squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck
• * Metastatic at diagnosis or persistent, metastatic, or recurrent after surgery and/or radiotherapy
• * Relapse after prior induction or adjuvant therapy allowed
• No newly diagnosed nonmetastatic disease
• Measurable or nonmeasurable disease
• PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:
• Age:
• 18 and over
• Performance status:
• Zubrod 0-1
• Life expectancy:
• Not specified
• Hematopoietic:
• Not specified
• Hepatic:
• Not specified
• Renal:
• Creatinine no greater than 1.5 mg/dL OR
• Creatinine clearance at least 50 mL/min
• Other:
• Not pregnant or nursing
• Fertile patients must use effective contraception
• No grade 2 or greater sensory neuropathy
• No other prior malignancy within the past 5 years except adequately treated basal cell or squamous cell skin cancer, carcinoma in situ of the cervix, or stage I or II cancer in complete remission
• PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:
• Biologic therapy:
• No concurrent biologic therapy
• Chemotherapy:
• See Disease Characteristics
• At least 6 months since prior carboplatin or cisplatin induction or adjuvant chemotherapy
• No more than 1 prior induction or adjuvant chemotherapy regimen
• No prior chemotherapy for recurrent or newly diagnosed metastatic disease
• No other concurrent chemotherapy
• Endocrine therapy:
• No concurrent anticancer hormonal therapy
• Radiotherapy:
• See Disease Characteristics
• At least 28 days since prior radiotherapy and recovered
• No concurrent radiotherapy
• Surgery:
• See Disease Characteristics
• At least 28 days since prior surgery and recovered