Combination Chemotherapy With or Without Radiation Therapy in Treating Patients With Recurrent Head and Neck Cancer That Cannot Be Removed By Surgery

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

• Histologically* or cytologically* confirmed squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of the oral cavity, oropharynx, hypopharynx, or larynx, including any of the following histologic variants:

• Spindle cell carcinoma

• Poorly differentiated keratin-positive carcinoma

• Lymphoepithelioma NOTE: *Biopsy or primary tumor and/or fine needle aspiration of the metastatic lymph node required

• Original or second primary tumor

• Recurrent neck metastases with unknown primary allowed

• Locally recurrent disease

• Measurable disease

• Unresectable disease

• Attempted surgical resection allowed provided surgery was performed ≥ 3 months ago, wound is completely healed, and there is no sign of carotid exposure

• Must have had prior radiotherapy for SCC of the head and neck with > 75% of the present tumor volume in areas irradiated at doses ≥ 45 Gy but ≤ 75 Gy

• Able to successfully re-irradiate the area of the gross tumor volume without exceeding lifetime spinal cord dose of 54 Gy as determined by physical examination and CT scan and/or MRI performed within the past 8 weeks

• First recurrence occurred > 6 months after completion of radiotherapy

• More than 1 recurrence allowed provided the above criteria for first recurrence has been met

• No primary tumor of the nasopharynx or salivary gland

• No distant metastases by history or physical examination, chest CT scan, and CT scan or MRI of the tumor site

• Patients with equivocal pulmonary nodules are eligible provided the nodules are < 1 cm, can be safely biopsied, or are negative by positron emission tomography imaging

• No circumferential tumor involvement of the carotid sheath by imaging unless prophylactic carotid stent is placed

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

Age

• 18 and over

Performance status

• Zubrod 0-1

Life expectancy

• Not specified

Hematopoietic

• Absolute neutrophil count ≥ 1,800/mm³

• Platelet count ≥ 100,000/mm³

• Hemoglobin ≥ 8.0 g/dL (transfusion or other intervention allowed)

Hepatic

• AST or ALT < 2 times upper limit of normal (ULN)

• Bilirubin < 1.5 mg/dL

• No hepatic insufficiency resulting in clinical jaundice and/or coagulation defects

Renal

• Creatinine clearance > 50 mL/min

• Calcium < 11.5 mg/dL

Cardiovascular

• No New York Heart Association class III or IV heart disease

• No other symptomatic or uncontrolled cardiac disease

Pulmonary

• No chronic obstructive pulmonary disease exacerbation

• No other respiratory illness requiring hospitalization within the past 6 months or that would preclude study therapy

Immunologic

• No AIDS

• No prior allergic reaction to E. coli-derived products

• No acute bacterial or fungal infection requiring IV antibiotics

Other

• Not pregnant or nursing

• Negative pregnancy test

• Fertile patients must use effective contraception during and for 30 days after completion of study treatment

• No other invasive malignancy within the past 3 years except nonmelanoma skin cancer, carcinoma in situ of the breast, oral cavity, or cervix

• No pre-existing peripheral sensory neuropathy > grade 2

• No other severe active co-morbidity

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

Biologic therapy

• Not specified

Chemotherapy

• At least 6 months since prior chemotherapy

• No prior systemic chemotherapy for recurrent SCC of the head and neck

• Prior neoadjuvant, adjuvant, and/or concurrent chemotherapy and radiotherapy for initial SCC of the head and neck allowed

Endocrine therapy

• Not specified

Radiotherapy

• See Disease Characteristics

• See Chemotherapy

• At least 6 months since prior radiotherapy

Surgery

• See Disease Characteristics

Other

• Prior cyclooxygenase-2 inhibitor or retinoids for chemoprevention allowed

• At least 6 months since prior epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) inhibitors or other targeted agents

• No prior EGFR inhibitors or other targeted agents for recurrent SCC of the head and neck

• No concurrent cimetidine or allopurinol (for patients on arm II, regimen 1)