Chemotherapy and Radiation Therapy in Treating Patients With Stage III or Stage IV Larynx or Oropharynx Cancer

You may be eligible if

• 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