S0217, Adjuvant Cisplatin and Docetaxel After Complete Resection Stage III or IV Head and Neck Cancer

You may be eligible if

• DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:
• Diagnosis of squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck
• * Selected stage III or IV (no distant metastasis) disease
• * The following TNM stages are excluded:
• * T3, N0, M0
• * T4a, N0, M0
• * T4b, N3, M0
• * Any T, any N, M1
• Complete total resection within the past 56 days AND has one or more of the following risk factors:
• * Multiple pathologically confirmed lymph node metastases
• * One or more lymph nodes with extracapsular extension of tumor
• * Microscopically positive margin(s) of resection, including mucosal margins and/or soft tissue or deep margins of resection
• No primary nasopharyngeal carcinoma
• PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:
• Age
• 18 and over
• Performance status
• Zubrod 0-1
• Life expectancy
• Not specified
• Hematopoietic
• Absolute neutrophil count ≥ 1,500/mm\^3
• Platelet count ≥ 100,000/mm\^3
• Hemoglobin ≥ 8.0 g/dL
• Hepatic
• Bilirubin ≤ 2 times upper limit of normal (ULN)
• SGOT or SGPT ≤ 1.5 times ULN
• Alkaline phosphatase ≤ 2.5 times ULN
• Renal
• Creatinine ≤ 1.5 mg/dL OR
• Creatinine clearance ≥ 60 mL/min
• Other
• No pre-existing peripheral neuropathy
• No known history of severe hypersensitiviy reaction to products containing Polysorbate 80
• No other 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
• Not pregnant or nursing
• Fertile patients must use effective contraception
• PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:
• Biologic therapy
• Not specified
• Chemotherapy
• No prior chemotherapy for the malignancy
• Endocrine therapy
• Not specified
• Radiotherapy
• No prior radiotherapy for the malignancy
• Surgery
• See Disease Characteristics
• Other
• No concurrent amifostine