Sorafenib in Combination With Carboplatin and Paclitaxel in Treating Participants With Metastatic or Recurrent Head and Neck Squamous Cell Cancer

PRIMARY OBJECTIVES: I. To evaluate the progression free survival of the combination of sorafenib (BAY 43-9006), carboplatin, and paclitaxel in patients with recurrent or metastatic squamous cell cancer of the head and neck (SCCHN). SECONDARY OBJECTIVES: I. Response rate, toxicity, safety profile, exploratory biomarker data, and overall survival. OUTLINE: Participants receive carboplatin intravenously (IV) over 30 minutes and paclitaxel IV over 3 hours on day 1, and sorafenib orally (PO) twice daily (BID) on days 2-19. Treatment repeats every 21 days for up to 6 courses. Starting with course 7, participants receive sorafenib PO daily in the absence of disease progression or unacceptable toxicity. After completion of study treatment, participants are followed up between 21-35 days.