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