Erlotinib and Cisplatin in Treating Patients With Recurrent or Metastatic Head and Neck Cancer

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: * Histologically confirmed squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck * All primary sites, including oral cavity, oropharynx, nasopharynx, hypopharynx, larynx, and paranasal sinus * Recurrent, unresectable, and/or metastatic disease * At least 1 measurable lesion * At least 20 mm with conventional techniques OR at least 10 mm with spiral CT scan * Lesions accessible for biopsy * Tumor specimen available for evaluation of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) expression * No known brain metastases PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: Age: * 18 and over Performance status: * ECOG 0-2 OR * Karnofsky 60-100% Life expectancy: * More than 12 weeks Hematopoietic: * WBC at least 3,000/mm\^3 * Absolute neutrophil count at least 1,500/mm\^3 * Platelet count at least 100,000/mm\^3 Hepatic: * Bilirubin no greater than 1.25 times upper limit of normal (ULN) * AST and ALT no greater than 2.5 times ULN Renal: * Creatinine normal OR * Creatinine clearance at least 60 mL/min Cardiovascular: * No symptomatic congestive heart failure * No unstable angina pectoris * No cardiac arrhythmia Gastrointestinal: * No gastrointestinal tract disease resulting in malabsorption * No requirement for IV alimentation * No active peptic ulcer disease * Inability to swallow tablets or silicon-based G-tubes allowed Ophthalmic: * No abnormalities of the cornea based on history (e.g., dry eye syndrome or Sjogren's syndrome) * No congenital abnormality (e.g., Fuch's dystrophy) * No abnormal slit-lamp examination using a vital dye (e.g., fluorescein or Bengal-Rose) * No abnormal corneal sensitivity test (e.g., Schirmer test or similar tear production test) Other: * Not pregnant or nursing * Negative pregnancy test * Fertile patients must use effective contraception * No other malignancy within the past 5 years except carcinoma in situ of the cervix, nonmelanoma skin cancer, or second primary squamous cell cancer originating from the head and neck * No grade 2 or greater residual ototoxicity or neuropathy from prior platinum-based therapy * No significant traumatic injury within the past 21 days * No other concurrent uncontrolled illness * No ongoing or active infection * No psychiatric illness or social situation that would preclude study participation PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY: Biologic therapy: * Not specified Chemotherapy: * No prior chemotherapy for recurrent or metastatic disease * Prior platinum-based chemotherapy with radiotherapy or platinum-based induction chemotherapy allowed * At least 6 months since prior chemotherapy Endocrine therapy: * Not specified Radiotherapy: * See Chemotherapy * At least 4 weeks since prior radiotherapy (except low-dose, limited-fraction palliative non-myelosuppressive radiotherapy \[e.g., involving less than 20% of functioning bone marrow using 800 cGy in 1 fraction or 2,000 cGy in 5 fractions\]) and recovered * No prior radiotherapy to target lesion unless there is evidence of disease progression Surgery: * See Disease Characteristics * At least 21 days since prior major surgery * No prior surgical procedure affecting gastrointestinal absorption Other: * No prior EGFR-targeting therapies * No prior investigational agents for recurrent or metastatic disease * No concurrent combination anti-retroviral therapy for HIV infection * No other concurrent investigational agents * No other concurrent anticancer treatment