Paclitaxel in Treating Patients With Metastatic or Recurrent Salivary Gland Cancer

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: Histologically confirmed salivary gland carcinoma that is metastatic or recurrent, including the following types: Mucoepidermoid carcinoma Adenocarcinoma Pathology review required Measurable disease required Lesion in a previously irradiated field must be progressing and biopsy- proven PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: Age: 18 and over Performance status: ECOG 0-2 Hematopoietic: WBC at least 3,000/mm3 ANC at least 1,500/mm3 Platelet count at least 100,000/mm3 Hb at least 10 g/dL Hepatic: Bilirubin no greater than 1.5 mg/dL Renal: Creatinine no greater than 2.0 mg/dL Cardiovascular: No MI within the past 6 months No CHF No unstable arrhythmia No current antiarrhythmic, inotropic, or antianginal medication Other: No history of allergy to Cremophor No prior malignancy within 5 years except: Curatively treated nonmelanomatous skin cancer Curatively treated in-situ cancer of the cervix No concurrent malignancy Not pregnant or nursing Effective contraception strongly advised for fertile patients Blood/body fluid analyses to determine eligibility and imaging studies and scans/x-rays for tumor measurement completed within 14 days prior to registration PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY: Biologic therapy: Prior biological response modifier therapy allowed Chemotherapy: No prior chemotherapy Endocrine therapy: Not specified Radiotherapy: Prior radiotherapy allowed with recovery Surgery: Prior surgery allowed with recovery