PEG-interferon Alfa-2b in Treating Patients With Stage II, Stage III, or Stage IV Head and Neck Cancer That Can Be Removed By Surgery

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: * Histologically confirmed squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck * Stage II, III, or IV disease * One of the following primary tumor sites: * Oral cavity * Oropharynx * Hypopharynx * Larynx * Resectable disease * Scheduled to undergo surgery as primary treatment * Distant metastases or a second primary tumor allowed provided tumor deemed resectable by the surgeon * No squamous cell carcinoma of the nasopharynx or skin PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: * Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status 0-2 * White Blood Cells (WBC) \> 3,000/mm\^3 * Platelet count ≥ 150,000/mm\^3 * Hemoglobin ≥ 10 g/dL * Transfusion and/or epoetin alfa support allowed provided it is given ≥ 1 week before study entry AND the patient is stable * Bilirubin \< 1.5 times upper limit of normal (ULN) * serum glutamic pyruvic transaminase (SGPT) ≤ 5 times ULN * Creatinine \< 1.5 times ULN * No hemolytic anemia * No hemoglobinopathies (e.g., thalassemia) * No prior or current ascites * No bleeding varices * No other evidence of decompensated liver disease * No symptomatic ischemic heart disease * No symptomatic congestive heart failure * No other uncontrolled heart condition * No chronic obstructive pulmonary disease * No documented pulmonary hypertension * No other chronic pulmonary disease * No known HIV positivity * No AIDS-related illness * No active uncontrolled infection * No immunologically mediated disease, including any of the following: * Inflammatory bowel disease (e.g., Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis) * Rheumatoid arthritis * Idiopathic thrombocytopenia purpura * Systemic lupus erythematosus * Autoimmune hemolytic anemia * Scleroderma * Severe psoriasis * No Central Nervous System (CNS) trauma * No confusion or disorientation * No active seizure disorders requiring medication * No spontaneous encephalopathy * Not pregnant or nursing * Negative pregnancy test * Fertile patients must use effective contraception * No pre-existing uncontrolled thyroid abnormality * No poorly controlled diabetes mellitus * No history of major psychiatric illness that would prelude giving informed consent * No nonmalignant systemic disease that would preclude study participation PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY: * More than 4 weeks since prior biologic therapy and recovered * More than 4 weeks since prior chemotherapy and recovered * More than 4 weeks since prior radiotherapy and recovered * More than 4 weeks since prior surgery * No prior interferon * No other concurrent immunotherapy * No concurrent chemotherapy * No concurrent hormonal antineoplastic therapy * No concurrent systemic corticosteroids * No concurrent radiotherapy