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

Inclusion criteria

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)