Combination Chemotherapy and Radiation in Treating Patients With Stage III or IV Head and Neck Cancer (Paradigm Trial)

You may be eligible if

• Histologically or cytologically confirmed squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck
• * Stage III or IV\* disease
• * One of the following primary tumor sites:
• * Oral cavity
• * No mandible invasion
• * Oropharynx
• * Hypopharynx
• * Larynx
• * The following primary tumor sites are excluded:
• * Nasal cavity
• * Paranasal cavity
• * Nasopharynx NOTE: \*No evidence of distant metastases by chest x-ray, abdominal ultrasound, or CT scan (for patients with liver function test abnormalities) or bone scan (for patients with local symptoms)
• At least 1 uni- or bi-dimensionally measurable lesion
• PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:
• Age
• Over 18
• Performance status
• WHO 0-1
• Life expectancy
• Not specified
• Hematopoietic
• Neutrophil count \> 1,500/mm\^3
• Platelet count \> 100,000/mm\^3
• Hemoglobin \> 10 g/dL
• Hepatic
• Bilirubin normal
• AST or ALT within eligibility range
• Alkaline phosphatase within eligibility range
• Renal
• Creatinine clearance \> 60 mL/min
• Cardiovascular
• No unstable cardiac disease despite treatment
• No myocardial infarction within the past 6 months
• Pulmonary
• No chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, defined as requiring hospitalization for pneumonia or respiratory decompensation within the past year
• * Obstruction caused by the tumor allowed
• Neurologic
• No symptomatic peripheral neuropathy \> grade 2
• No symptomatic altered hearing \> grade 2
• No history of significant neurologic or psychiatric disorders, including dementia or seizures
• Other
• No active drug addiction, including alcohol, cocaine, or intravenous drugs within the past 6 months
• No other malignancy within the past 5 years except adequately treated carcinoma in situ of the cervix, basal cell or squamous cell skin cancer, or other cancer curatively treated by surgery alone
• No active, clinically significant, uncontrolled infection
• No autoimmune disease requiring therapy
• No unhealed or clinically active peptic ulcer disease
• No hypercalcemia
• No other serious illness or medical condition
• No involuntary weight loss \> 25% of body weight within the past 2 months
• HIV negative
• Not pregnant or nursing
• Negative pregnancy test
• Fertile patients must use effective contraception during and for at least 3 months after study participation
• PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:
• Biologic therapy
• Not specified
• Chemotherapy
• No prior chemotherapy
• Endocrine therapy
• Not specified
• Radiotherapy
• No prior radiotherapy
• Surgery
• No prior organ transplantation
• No prior surgery for this cancer
• * Biopsy allowed
• Other
• More than 30 days since prior participation in another investigational study
• No other concurrent anticancer therapy