PEG-interferon Alfa-2b in Treating Patients With Stage II, Stage III, or Stage IV Head and Neck Cancer That Can Be Removed By Surgery

You may be eligible if

• DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:
• Histologically confirmed squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck
• * Stage II, III, or IV disease
• * One of the following primary tumor sites:
• * Oral cavity
• * Oropharynx
• * Hypopharynx
• * Larynx
• Resectable disease
• * Scheduled to undergo surgery as primary treatment
• * Distant metastases or a second primary tumor allowed provided tumor deemed resectable by the surgeon
• No squamous cell carcinoma of the nasopharynx or skin
• PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:
• Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status 0-2
• White Blood Cells (WBC) \> 3,000/mm\^3
• Platelet count ≥ 150,000/mm\^3
• Hemoglobin ≥ 10 g/dL
• * Transfusion and/or epoetin alfa support allowed provided it is given ≥ 1 week before study entry AND the patient is stable
• Bilirubin \< 1.5 times upper limit of normal (ULN)
• serum glutamic pyruvic transaminase (SGPT) ≤ 5 times ULN
• Creatinine \< 1.5 times ULN
• No hemolytic anemia
• No hemoglobinopathies (e.g., thalassemia)
• No prior or current ascites
• No bleeding varices
• No other evidence of decompensated liver disease
• No symptomatic ischemic heart disease
• No symptomatic congestive heart failure
• No other uncontrolled heart condition
• No chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
• No documented pulmonary hypertension
• No other chronic pulmonary disease
• No known HIV positivity
• No AIDS-related illness
• No active uncontrolled infection
• No immunologically mediated disease, including any of the following:
• * Inflammatory bowel disease (e.g., Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis)
• * Rheumatoid arthritis
• * Idiopathic thrombocytopenia purpura
• * Systemic lupus erythematosus
• * Autoimmune hemolytic anemia
• * Scleroderma
• * Severe psoriasis
• No Central Nervous System (CNS) trauma
• No confusion or disorientation
• No active seizure disorders requiring medication
• No spontaneous encephalopathy
• Not pregnant or nursing
• Negative pregnancy test
• Fertile patients must use effective contraception
• No pre-existing uncontrolled thyroid abnormality
• No poorly controlled diabetes mellitus
• No history of major psychiatric illness that would prelude giving informed consent
• No nonmalignant systemic disease that would preclude study participation
• PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:
• More than 4 weeks since prior biologic therapy and recovered
• More than 4 weeks since prior chemotherapy and recovered
• More than 4 weeks since prior radiotherapy and recovered
• More than 4 weeks since prior surgery
• No prior interferon
• No other concurrent immunotherapy
• No concurrent chemotherapy
• No concurrent hormonal antineoplastic therapy
• No concurrent systemic corticosteroids
• No concurrent radiotherapy