Phase II Study of Concurrent C225, Cisplatin and Radiation in Stage IV Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Head and Neck

Inclusion Criteria: * Histologically confirmed squamous cell or undifferentiated carcinoma of the head and neck (excluding nasopharynx, paranasal sinus, and parotid gland) * Unresectable locally advanced or regional stage IV disease * No evidence of distant metastases * Must have demonstrable primary tumor site * Measurable disease * Unresectable disease * Meets the following criteria for unresectable disease by tumor site: * Hypopharynx, meeting 1 of the following criteria: * Extension across the midline of the posterior pharyngeal wall * Any evidence of fixation to the cervical spine * Larynx * Direct subglottic extension (\>3cm) into surrounding muscle or skin * Oral cavity * Lesion precluding functional reconstruction * Base of tongue, meeting 1 of the following criteria: * Extension into the root of the tongue * Patient refuses total glossectomy * Tonsillar area, meeting 1 of the following criteria: * Extension into pterygoid area as manifested by x-ray or trismus * Extension across midline of pharyngeal wall * Direct extension into soft tissue of the neck * Unilateral neck node metastases fixed to carotid artery, mastoid, base of skull, or cervical spine with any of the above tumors * Patients requiring total glossectomy are eligible * Age\>=18 years * ECOG Performance status of 0-1 * Adequate hematologic, renal, and hepatic function obtained \<=4 weeks prior to registration * Absolute neutrophil count ≥ 2,000/mm\^3 * Platelet count ≥ 100,000/mm\^3 * Hemoglobin ≥ 9.0 g/dL * Alkaline phosphatase ≤ 3 times normal * Aspartate aminotransferase (AST) or Alanine aminotransferase (ALT) ≤ 3 times normal * Bilirubin ≤ 1.5 mg/dL * Creatinine ≤ 1.2 mg/dL OR creatinine clearance ≥ 50 mL/min * Able to tolerate fluid load * At least 14 days since major surgery (including dental extraction) except percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG) placement or mediport placement Exclusion Criteria: * Pregnant or nursing * Fertile patients do not use effective contraception * Patients who refuse surgery but whose tumors are technically resectable OR whose tumors are unresectable for medical reasons are not eligible * Disease metastases below the clavicles or elsewhere (M1) or with a postoperative recurrence * Prior excisional surgery of head and neck tumor * Prior radiotherapy to the head and neck region * Prior chemotherapy * Prior drugs that target the epidermal growth factor receptor pathway * Prior chimerized or murine monoclonal antibody * Active systemic infection * Known allergy to murine proteins * Severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease requiring ≥ 3 hospitalizations within the past year * Myocardial infarction within the past 3 months * Uncontrolled congestive heart failure * Unstable or uncontrolled angina * Clinically apparent jaundice * Postoperative recurrence * Other malignancy within the past 3 years except resected basal cell or squamous cell skin cancer, carcinoma in situ of the cervix, or other in situ tumors