SU5416 and Paclitaxel in Treating Patients With Recurrent, Locally Advanced or Metastatic Cancer of the Head and Neck

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: * Metastatic or loco-regionally recurrent malignancy of the head and neck (including salivary gland and thyroid) that is incurable by surgery or radiotherapy * At least two distinct tumor masses OR * One tumor mass at least 3 cm in diameter * No brain metastases * No pulmonary metastases as only site of disease PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: Age: * 18 and over Performance status: * ECOG 0-2 Life expectancy: * At least 12 weeks Hematopoietic: * WBC at least 3,500/mm3 * Granulocyte count at least 1,500/mm3 * Platelet count at least 100,000/mm3 * Hemoglobin greater than 9.0 g/dL Hepatic: * PT and PTT normal OR * INR ratio less than 1.1 * Bilirubin less than 1.5 mg/dL * AST and ALT less than 2 times upper limit of normal Renal: * Creatinine less than 1.5 mg/dL * Creatinine clearance greater than 60 mL/min Cardiovascular: * No New York Heart Association class III or IV heart disease * No uncompensated coronary artery disease * No history of myocardial infarction or severe or unstable angina within the past 6 months * No severe peripheral vascular disease * No deep venous thrombosis or arterial thrombosis within the past 6 months * No known hypercoagulable syndrome with predisposition to venous or arterial clots Pulmonary: * No pulmonary embolism within the past 6 months Other: * No prior cerebral hemorrhage * Not pregnant or nursing * Negative pregnancy test * Fertile patients must use effective contraception PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY: Biologic therapy: * Not specified Chemotherapy: * At least 3 weeks since palliative chemotherapy (6 weeks for mitomycin or nitrosoureas) and recovered * At least 4 weeks since combined chemoradiotherapy and recovered * Must be recovered from prior taxanes Endocrine therapy: * Not specified Radiotherapy: * See Disease Characteristics * At least 4 weeks since prior large field radiotherapy and recovered Surgery: * Not specified