S0216, Combination Chemotherapy and RT in Treating Patients With Stage III or Stage IV Head and Neck Cancer

You may be eligible if

• DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:
• Histologically confirmed squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (excluding lip, nasopharynx, paranasal sinus, and salivary gland) by biopsy or fine needle aspirate of the primary lesion or neck mass
• * Stage III or IV disease
• No evidence of distant metastases
• * Negative chest x-ray
• Primary site in the head and neck region must be identified
• * No unknown primary site
• Considered to be appropriate for definitive radiotherapy with curative intent
• PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:
• Age
• 18 and over
• Performance status
• Zubrod 0-1
• Life expectancy
• Not specified
• Hematopoietic
• Granulocyte count greater than 1,500/mm\^3
• Platelet count greater than 100,000/mm\^3
• Hepatic
• Bilirubin no greater than upper limit of normal (ULN)
• Alkaline phosphatase less than 2 times ULN
• ALT or AST less than 1.5 times ULN
• Renal
• Creatinine less than 1.5 mg/dL
• Cardiovascular
• No myocardial infarction within the past 3 months
• No unstable or uncontrolled angina
• Other
• Not pregnant or nursing
• Fertile patients must use effective contraception
• 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 adequately treated stage I or II cancer currently in complete remission
• No evidence of pre-existing peripheral neuropathy
• No active systemic infection
• No history of hypersensitivity reaction to products containing polysorbate 80
• PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:
• Biologic therapy
• Not specified
• Chemotherapy
• No prior chemotherapy
• Endocrine therapy
• Not specified
• Radiotherapy
• See Disease Characteristics
• No prior radiotherapy
• Surgery
• No prior surgery for head or neck cancer