DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: Histologically proven squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck that is incurable with surgery or radiotherapy No nasopharyngeal primaries Measurable or evaluable disease Newly diagnosed with extensive, incurable local regional disease AND distant metastases OR Local regional recurrence/persistence or distant metastases after surgery or radiotherapy Persistent or progressive disease after radiotherapy must be histologically proven at least 8 weeks after therapy No brain metastases

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: Age: 18 and over Performance status: ECOG 0-1 Life expectancy: Not specified Hematopoietic: Absolute neutrophil count at least 1,500/mm3 Platelet count at least 100,000/mm3 Hemoglobin at least 10 g/dL (transfusion allowed) Hepatic: Bilirubin no greater than 1.5 mg/dL SGOT and SGPT no greater than 2 times upper limit of normal (ULN) Alkaline phosphatase no greater than 2 times ULN Renal: Creatinine no greater than 1.2 mg/dL OR Creatinine clearance at least 50 mL/min Calcium no greater than ULN No history of hypercalcemia Other: No active infection No other concurrent malignancy within past 2 years except curatively treated basal cell or squamous cell skin cancer or carcinoma in situ of the cervix No known hypersensitivity to murine proteins Not pregnant or nursing Negative pregnancy test Fertile patients must use effective contraception

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY: Biologic therapy: No prior chimeric antibody or kinase inhibitor for recurrent or metastatic disease No more than 1 prior biotherapy regimen for recurrent or metastatic disease Chemotherapy: At least 3 months since prior induction or adjuvant chemotherapy concurrent with radiotherapy No prior chemotherapy for recurrent disease Endocrine therapy: Not specified Radiotherapy: See Disease Characteristics At least 4 weeks since prior radiotherapy Surgery: See Disease Characteristics Recovered from prior major surgery