Pharmacodynamic Effects of Ribavirin in Patients With Tonsil and/or Base of Tongue Squamous Cell Carcinoma

Inclusion Criteria: * Prior diagnostic surgical or core needle biopsy, with confirmation of tonsil and/or base of tongue squamous cell carcinoma that is positive for expression of p16 and phosphorylated eIF4E, as determined by the Department of Pathology at MSKCC. The biopsy may be either of the tonsil base of tongue and/or an involved neck node. 2 unstained slides and/or tissue block must be available from the initial diagnostic biopsy * Positive expression p16 and phosphorylated eIF4E is defined as \>=30% of tumor cells with cytological and/or nuclear staining * Age ≥ 18 and ≤ 65 years of age * Karnofsky Performance Status ≥ 80 * Adequate organ function, as follows: Adequate bone marrow reserve: absolute neutrophil count (ANC) ≥ 1.5 X 109/L, platelets ≥ 160 X 109/L, hemoglobin ≥ 12 g/dL Hepatic: total bilirubin within 1.5 X upper limit of normal (ULN) ; alkaline phosphatase (AP), aspartate transaminase (AST) and alanine transaminase (ALT) ≤ 2.5 X ULN (Patients with Gilbert's syndrome as the cause of hyperbilirubinemia may be eligible if total bilirubin ≤ 2.5 X UNL) Renal: Serum creatinine ≤ 1.3 mg/dL. Patients with serum creatinine \> 1.3 mg/dL may be eligible if creatinine clearance (CrCl) ≥ 55 mL/min based on the standard Cockroft and Gault formula. * Patients of childbearing potential must have a negative serum pregnancy test within 14 days of treatment. Patients must agree to use a reliable method of birth control during and for 6 months following the last dose of study drug. * Ability to swallow oral medication. * Non-surgical patients: If primary radiation +/- chemotherapy (concurrent or sequential) is planned, patients must agree to undergo research biopsy after completion of ribavirin treatment. Exclusion Criteria: * Prior chemotherapy or radiation for tonsillar or base of tongue squamous cell cancer * More than 10 pack-years of tobacco use * History of hemolytic anemia or thalassemia * Active infection or serious underlying medical condition that would impair the patient's ability to receive protocol treatment. * Current therapeutic anticoagulation with Coumadin (warfarin) * Current or prior treatment with ribavirin * Known active Hepatitis B or C * Any prior documented history of transient ischemic attack (TIA) or cerebrovascular accident (CVA) * New York Heart Association (NYHA) Grade II or greater congestive heart failure * Clinically significant peripheral vascular disease * History of unstable angina or myocardial infarction (MI) within the last 3 years