AP5346 or Oxaliplatin in Treating Patients With Metastatic and/or Unresectable Recurrent Head and Neck Cancer

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: * Histologically or cytologically confirmed primary squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck, including the oral cavity, oropharynx, hypopharynx, larynx, or nasopharynx * Metastatic and/or unresectable locally recurrent disease for which no curative treatment is available * Patients must not be candidates for surgical resection or radiotherapy with curative intent * Histological documentation of relapse required, especially for locoregional recurrence or recurrence in a previously irradiated field * Tumor(s) must be amenable to minimally invasive biopsy during the first course of treatment * Must have evidence of progression or appearance of a new lesion after completion of radiotherapy, if biopsy site is in a previously irradiated field PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: * WHO performance status 0-2 * Not pregnant or nursing * Negative pregnancy test * Fertile patients must use effective contraception * Absolute neutrophil count ≥ 2,000/mm³ * Platelet count ≥ 100,000/mm³ * Hemoglobin ≥ 10 g/dL * Bilirubin \< 1.5 times upper level of normal (ULN) * Alkaline phosphatase (AP) ≤ 5 times normal (unless elevation is due to bone disease or bone metastasis in the absence of liver disease) * AST and ALT ≤ 3 times ULN * AST and ALT \> 3 times ULN allowed provided AP ≤ 3 times ULN * Blood urea \< 1.5 times ULN * Creatinine \< 1.5 times ULN OR creatinine clearance \> 60 mL/min OR creatinine clearance by 24-hour urine collection normal * Calcium normal * No history of hypersensitivity reactions of any kind to cisplatin or carboplatin * No other serious medical condition or psychiatric illness that would preclude the patient's ability to give informed consent or receive study treatment * No symptomatic peripheral neuropathy ≥ grade 2 * No need for IV alimentation * No other serious illness or medical condition, including, but not limited to, the following: * Ongoing or active infection * Symptomatic congestive heart failure * Unstable angina pectoris or cardiac arrhythmia * Significant neurologic or psychiatric disorders, including dementia or uncontrolled seizures * Hypophosphatemia PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY: * See Disease Characteristics * At least 4 weeks since prior and no other concurrent anticancer treatment (i.e., chemotherapy, chemoradiotherapy, or radiotherapy) * At least 4 weeks since prior biologic therapy * No prior oxaliplatin * Prior cisplatin or carboplatin allowed * No concurrent anticoagulants other than cardioprotective doses of aspirin, cyclooxygenase 1-inhibitory nonspecific anti-inflammatory drugs, or prophylactic low-dose heparin * Concurrent bisphosphonates for hypercalcemia allowed provided the drug was initiated ≥ 3 months prior to study entry