DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

• Histologically confirmed stage III or IV (T2-T4) squamous cell carcinoma of the larynx or oropharynx

  • No recurrent disease
  • No evidence of distant metastasis

• Resectable disease, defined as follows:

  • High probability of attaining clear surgical margins (for disease of the base of tongue, tonsil, soft palate, or pharyngeal wall)
  • No extension to root of tongue (for disease of the base of tongue)
  • No extension into pterygoid by radiograph (for disease of the tonsil, soft palate, or pharyngeal wall)
  • No primary tumor or nodal metastases fixed to the carotid artery or cervical spine (for disease of the base of tongue, tonsil, soft palate, or pharyngeal wall)
  • No trismus (for disease of the tonsil, soft palate, or pharyngeal wall)
  • No involvement of the trachea greater than 1 cm or any involvement of the esophagus (for disease of the subglottis)

  • For disease of the supraglottis, glottis, or subglottis:

    • No base of the tongue invasion greater than 2 cm
    • No tumor extension through cartilage to involve strap muscles of the neck
    • No tumor fixation to prevertebral fascia
    • No involvement of the carotid artery
    • No fixed nodal disease with involvement of the deep neck
    • Extension into pyriform sinus or lateral pharyngeal wall allowed if no extension into posterior pharynx

• Measurable disease

  • - Lesions accurately measured in at least one dimension as > 20 mm (2.0 cm) with conventional techniques or as > 10 mm (1.0 cm) with spiral CT scan
  • Cytologic or histologic evidence of neoplasm is needed for measurable disease restricted to a solitary lesion
• No other concurrent head and neck neoplasms

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

Age

• 18 and over

Performance status

• ECOG 0-2

Life expectancy

• Not specified

Hematopoietic

• Absolute neutrophil count at least 1,500/mm^3
• Platelet count at least 100,000/mm^3

Hepatic

• Not specified

Renal

• Creatinine less than 3.0 mg/dL
• Calcium normal

Cardiovascular

• No significant cardiac disease
• No uncontrolled hypertension
• No unstable angina
• No congestive heart failure
• No myocardial infarction within the past year
• No serious cardiac arrhythmias requiring medication

Other

• Not pregnant or nursing
• Negative pregnancy test
• Fertile patients must use effective contraception during and for at least 3 months after study completion
• No significant detectable infection
• No history of allergy to drugs containing Cremophor EL
• No history of allergy to mammalian cell-derived products (epoetin alfa) or human albumin
• No other malignancy within the past 3 years except basal or squamous cell skin cancer or carcinoma in situ of the cervix

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

Biologic therapy

• Not specified

Chemotherapy

• No prior chemotherapy
• No concurrent amifostine

Endocrine therapy

• Not specified

Radiotherapy

• No prior radiotherapy above the clavicles

Surgery

• No prior surgery to the primary tumor except biopsy or debulking

Other

• No concurrent experimental mucosal protectants