Inclusion Criteria

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