S0007 - Combination Chemotherapy in Treating Patients With Metastatic or Recurrent Head and Neck Cancer

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: * Histologically confirmed squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck * Metastatic at diagnosis or persistent, metastatic, or recurrent after surgery and/or radiotherapy * Relapse after prior induction or adjuvant therapy allowed * No newly diagnosed nonmetastatic disease * Measurable or nonmeasurable disease PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: Age: * 18 and over Performance status: * Zubrod 0-1 Life expectancy: * Not specified Hematopoietic: * Not specified Hepatic: * Not specified Renal: * Creatinine no greater than 1.5 mg/dL OR * Creatinine clearance at least 50 mL/min Other: * Not pregnant or nursing * Fertile patients must use effective contraception * No grade 2 or greater sensory neuropathy * No other prior malignancy within the past 5 years except adequately treated basal cell or squamous cell skin cancer, carcinoma in situ of the cervix, or stage I or II cancer in complete remission PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY: Biologic therapy: * No concurrent biologic therapy Chemotherapy: * See Disease Characteristics * At least 6 months since prior carboplatin or cisplatin induction or adjuvant chemotherapy * No more than 1 prior induction or adjuvant chemotherapy regimen * No prior chemotherapy for recurrent or newly diagnosed metastatic disease * No other concurrent chemotherapy Endocrine therapy: * No concurrent anticancer hormonal therapy Radiotherapy: * See Disease Characteristics * At least 28 days since prior radiotherapy and recovered * No concurrent radiotherapy Surgery: * See Disease Characteristics * At least 28 days since prior surgery and recovered