DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

• Histologically or cytologically confirmed squamous cell (epidermoid) carcinoma of the oral cavity, oropharynx, hypopharynx, larynx, nasopharynx, or maxillary sinus

  • Stage III or IV disease

  • Distant metastases allowed provided both of the following are true:

    • Metastases are confined to the head and neck region
    • Metastases are encompassable in a radiotherapy field with curative intent
• Locally recurrent disease after primary surgery allowed

• Meets 1 of the following criteria:

  • Unresectable disease
  • Patient prefers chemoradiotherapy over surgery
• Measurable disease
• No brain metastases and/or carcinomatous meningitis

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

Age

• 18 and over

Performance status

• Not specified

Life expectancy

• Not specified

Hematopoietic

• WBC ≥ 3,000/mm^3
• Hemoglobin > 10 g/dL
• Platelet count > 100,000/mm^3
• Absolute neutrophil count ≥ 1,500/mm^3

Hepatic

• Bilirubin < 2.0 times upper limit of normal (ULN)
• AST/ALT ≤ 2.5 times ULN

Renal

• Creatinine < 1.5 times ULN OR
• Creatinine clearance ≥ 60 mL/min

Cardiovascular

• No symptomatic congestive heart failure
• No unstable angina pectoris
• No cardiac arrhythmia

Pulmonary

• No clinically active interstitial lung disease

  • Chronic, stable, asymptomatic radiographic changes allowed

Other

• No prior allergic reaction attributed to compounds of similar chemical or biological composition to study drugs or Cremophor^® EL
• No AIDS or primary immunodeficiencies

• No other malignancy within the past 5 years except curatively treated squamous cell or basal cell skin cancer or carcinoma in situ of the cervix

  • Probability of recurrence of the prior malignancy < 5%
• No other concurrent uncontrolled illness
• No ongoing or active serious infection
• No psychiatric illness or situation that would preclude study compliance or giving informed consent
• Not pregnant or nursing
• Negative pregnancy test
• Fertile patients must use effective contraception

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

Biologic therapy

• Not specified

Chemotherapy

• No prior chemotherapy for cancer
• No other concurrent chemotherapy

Endocrine therapy

• Not specified

Radiotherapy

• No prior therapeutic radiotherapy to the head and neck region
• No prior radiotherapy for cancer

Surgery

• See Disease Characteristics
• At least 4 weeks since prior major surgery and recovered

Other

• No prior gefitinib or other epidermal growth factor receptor inhibitors
• More than 4 weeks since prior non-approved or investigational agents

• No concurrent administration of any of the following:

  • Phenytoin
  • Carbamazepine
  • Barbiturates
  • Rifampin
  • Hypericum perforatum (St. John's wort)
  • Oxcarbazepine
  • Rifapentine
  • Amifostine
  • Modafinil
  • Other CYP3A4 enzyme inducers
  • Other anticancer agents or investigational drugs
  • Combination antiretroviral therapy for HIV-positive patients