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

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