Inclusion Criteria

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

- Histologically confirmed squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck

- Metastatic at diagnosis or persistent, metastatic, or recurrent after surgery
and/or radiotherapy

- Relapse after prior induction or adjuvant therapy allowed

- No newly diagnosed nonmetastatic disease

- Measurable or nonmeasurable disease

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

Age:

- 18 and over

Performance status:

- Zubrod 0-1

Life expectancy:

- Not specified

Hematopoietic:

- Not specified

Hepatic:

- Not specified

Renal:

- Creatinine no greater than 1.5 mg/dL OR

- Creatinine clearance at least 50 mL/min

Other:

- Not pregnant or nursing

- Fertile patients must use effective contraception

- No grade 2 or greater sensory neuropathy

- No other prior malignancy within the past 5 years except adequately treated basal
cell or squamous cell skin cancer, carcinoma in situ of the cervix, or stage I or II
cancer in complete remission

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

Biologic therapy:

- No concurrent biologic therapy

Chemotherapy:

- See Disease Characteristics

- At least 6 months since prior carboplatin or cisplatin induction or adjuvant
chemotherapy

- No more than 1 prior induction or adjuvant chemotherapy regimen

- No prior chemotherapy for recurrent or newly diagnosed metastatic disease

- No other concurrent chemotherapy

Endocrine therapy:

- No concurrent anticancer hormonal therapy

Radiotherapy:

- See Disease Characteristics

- At least 28 days since prior radiotherapy and recovered

- No concurrent radiotherapy

Surgery:

- See Disease Characteristics

- At least 28 days since prior surgery and recovered