DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

• Histologically confirmed squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck

  • Stage II, III, or IV disease

  • One of the following primary tumor sites:

    • Oral cavity
    • Oropharynx
    • Hypopharynx
    • Larynx

• Resectable disease

  • Scheduled to undergo surgery as primary treatment

    • Distant metastases or a second primary tumor allowed provided tumor deemed resectable by the surgeon
• No squamous cell carcinoma of the nasopharynx or skin

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

• ECOG performance status 0-2
• WBC > 3,000/mm^3
• Platelet count ≥ 150,000/mm^3

• Hemoglobin ≥ 10 g/dL

  • Transfusion and/or epoetin alfa support allowed provided it is given ≥ 1 week before study entry AND the patient is stable
• Bilirubin < 1.5 times upper limit of normal (ULN)
• SGPT ≤ 5 times ULN
• Creatinine < 1.5 times ULN
• No hemolytic anemia
• No hemoglobinopathies (e.g., thalassemia)
• No prior or current ascites
• No bleeding varices
• No other evidence of decompensated liver disease
• No symptomatic ischemic heart disease
• No symptomatic congestive heart failure
• No other uncontrolled heart condition
• No chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
• No documented pulmonary hypertension
• No other chronic pulmonary disease
• No known HIV positivity
• No AIDS-related illness
• No active uncontrolled infection

• No immunologically mediated disease, including any of the following:

  • Inflammatory bowel disease (e.g., Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis)
  • Rheumatoid arthritis
  • Idiopathic thrombocytopenia purpura
  • Systemic lupus erythematosus
  • Autoimmune hemolytic anemia
  • Scleroderma
  • Severe psoriasis
• No CNS trauma
• No confusion or disorientation
• No active seizure disorders requiring medication
• No spontaneous encephalopathy
• Not pregnant or nursing
• Negative pregnancy test
• Fertile patients must use effective contraception
• No pre-existing uncontrolled thyroid abnormality
• No poorly controlled diabetes mellitus
• No history of major psychiatric illness that would prelude giving informed consent
• No nonmalignant systemic disease that would preclude study participation

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

• More than 4 weeks since prior biologic therapy and recovered
• More than 4 weeks since prior chemotherapy and recovered
• More than 4 weeks since prior radiotherapy and recovered
• More than 4 weeks since prior surgery
• No prior interferon
• No other concurrent immunotherapy
• No concurrent chemotherapy
• No concurrent hormonal antineoplastic therapy
• No concurrent systemic corticosteroids
• No concurrent radiotherapy