S0329, Gemcitabine and Paclitaxel in Treating Patients With Persistent, Recurrent, or Metastatic Head and Neck Cancer

You may be eligible if

• DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:
• Histologically or cytologically confirmed squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (SCCHN)
• * Recurrent, persistent, or newly diagnosed metastatic disease
• Measurable or non-measurable disease
• No active or prior CNS metastasis
• PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:
• Age
• 18 and over
• Performance status
• Zubrod 0-1
• Life expectancy
• Not specified
• Hematopoietic
• Not specified
• Hepatic
• Not specified
• Renal
• Not specified
• Other
• No serious organ dysfunction
• No serious comorbid conditions that would preclude study treatment
• No history of hypersensitivity reaction to products containing polysorbate 80
• No active infection requiring systemic antibiotic therapy
• No symptomatic sensory neuropathy ≥ grade 2
• No other malignancy within the past 5 years except adequately treated basal cell or squamous cell skin cancer or carcinoma in situ of the cervix
• Not pregnant or nursing
• Fertile patients must use effective contraception
• PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:
• Biologic therapy
• No concurrent biologic or immunotherapy for SCCHN
• No concurrent gene therapy for SCCHN
• Chemotherapy
• No prior chemotherapy for recurrent or newly diagnosed metastatic disease
• At least 6 months since prior induction or adjuvant chemotherapy
• * No more than 1 prior induction or adjuvant regimen
• No prior gemcitabine or taxanes as part of induction, adjuvant, or neoadjuvant chemotherapy
• No other concurrent chemotherapy for SCCHN
• Endocrine therapy
• Not specified
• Radiotherapy
• At least 28 days since prior radiotherapy and recovered
• No concurrent radiotherapy for SCCHN
• Surgery
• Not specified
• Other
• No other concurrent therapy for SCCHN