Thalidomide in Treating Patients With Recurrent or Metastatic Head and Neck Cancer

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

• Histologically proven squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck
• Recurrent disease OR metastatic disease at initial diagnosis or at recurrence
• Initial therapy of surgery and/or radiotherapy, induction chemotherapy, or concurrent chemotherapy and radiotherapy allowed
• No more than one prior regimen of chemotherapy or biologic therapy for metastatic disease
• Recurrence after adjuvant or induction chemotherapy may have received one additional course of chemotherapy or biologic therapy

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

• Age: 18 and over
• Performance status: Zubrod 0-2
• Life expectancy: At least 3 months
• WBC at least 3000/mm3
• Platelet count at least 100,000/mm3
• Hematocrit at least 30%
• Bilirubin no greater than 1.5 times normal
• SGOT/SGPT no greater than 1.5 times normal
• Creatinine no greater than 1.5 mg/dL
• Not pregnant or nursing
• Negative pregnancy test
• Fertile women must use 2 methods of effective contraception, 1 barrier and 1 hormonal, beginning at least 4 weeks before study and continuing during and for 1 month after study
• Men must use effective barrier contraception during and for 1 month after study
• No grade 2 or greater peripheral neuropathy
• No serious infection or other concurrent illness requiring immediate therapy
• Must be able to take oral medications
• No medical or social factors that would interfere with compliance

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

• Any number of courses of one regimen of chemotherapy allowed
• No concurrent cytotoxic chemotherapy
• No concurrent radiotherapy