Radiation Therapy With or Without Chemotherapy in Treating Patients With High-Risk Malignant Salivary Gland Tumors That Have Been Removed By Surgery

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: * Pathologically proven diagnosis of a malignant major salivary gland tumor or malignant minor salivary gland tumor of the head and neck of the following histologic subtypes: * Intermediate-grade adenocarcinoma or intermediate-grade mucoepidermoid carcinoma * High-grade acinic cell carcinoma or high-grade (\>30% solid component) adenoid cystic carcinoma * Surgical resection with curative intent within 8 weeks prior to registration * All patients must have a Medical Oncology evaluation within 4 weeks prior to registration * Pathologic stage T3-4 or N1-3 or T1-2, N0 with a close (≤ 1mm) or microscopically positive surgical margin; patients must be free of distant metastases based upon the following minimum diagnostic workup: * History/physical examination within 8 weeks prior to registration * Radiologic confirmation of the absence of hematogenous metastasis within 12 weeks prior to registration; at a minimum, contrast CT imaging of the chest is required (PET/CT is acceptable) * No patients with residual macroscopic disease after surgery * No prior systemic chemotherapy or radiation therapy for salivary gland malignancy PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: * Zubrod performance status 0-1 * Absolute neutrophil count (ANC) ≥ 1,800 cells/mm\^3 * Platelets ≥ 100,000 cells/mm\^3 * Hemoglobin ≥ 8.0 g/dL (the use of transfusion or other intervention to achieve hemoglobin ≥ 8.0 g/dL is acceptable) * Serum creatinine \< 2.0 mg/dL * Total bilirubin \< 2 x the institutional upper limit of normal (ULN) * Aspartate aminotransferase (AST) or alanine aminotransferase (ALT) \< 3 x the institutional ULN * Negative serum pregnancy test within 2 weeks prior to registration for women of childbearing potential * Women of childbearing potential and male participants who are sexually active must practice adequate contraception during treatment and for 6 weeks following treatment * Not pregnant or nursing * Patients must be deemed able to comply with the treatment plan and follow-up schedule * Patients must provide study specific informed consent prior to study entry, including consent for mandatory tissue submission for central review * No prior invasive malignancy (except non-melanomatous skin cancer) unless disease free for a minimum of 3 years (for example, carcinoma in situ of the breast, oral cavity, or cervix are all permissible) * No severe, active co-morbidity, defined as follows: * Unstable angina and/or congestive heart failure requiring hospitalization within the last 6 months * Transmural myocardial infarction within the last 6 months * Acute bacterial or fungal infection requiring intravenous antibiotics at the time of registration * Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease exacerbation or other respiratory illness requiring hospitalization or precluding study therapy at the time of registration * Hepatic insufficiency resulting in clinical jaundice and/or coagulation defects (coagulation parameters are not required for entry into this protocol) * Acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) based upon current Centers for Disease Control (CDC) definition (HIV testing is not required for entry into this protocol) * Protocol-specific requirements may also exclude immunocompromised patients * Pre-existing ≥ grade 2 neuropathy * No significant pre-existing hearing loss, as defined by the patient or treating physician PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY: * See Disease Characteristics * No prior systemic chemotherapy or radiation therapy for salivary gland malignancy (prior chemotherapy for a different cancer is allowable) * No prior radiotherapy to the region of the study cancer that would result in overlap of radiation therapy fields * No prior organ transplant * No concurrent hematopoietic growth factors (e.g., G-CSF or pegfilgrastim) during radiotherapy * No concurrent erythropoiesis-stimulating agents