Docetaxel and S-1 Followed By Radiation Therapy and Low-Dose Cisplatin in Treating Patients With Stage III or Stage IV Head and Neck Cancer

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

• Pathologically confirmed head and neck cancer arising from the oral cavity, oropharynx, hypopharynx, or nasopharynx, including any of the following subtypes:

  • Squamous cell carcinoma
  • Poorly differentiated carcinoma
  • Lymphoepithelioma
• Locally advanced disease (stage III or IV [M0] disease)
• At least 1 unidimensionally measurable index lesion

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

• ECOG performance status 0-2
• ANC ≥ 1,500/mm³
• Platelet count ≥ 100,000/mm³
• Hemoglobin ≥ 9 g/dL
• Bilirubin ≤ 1.5 times the upper limit of normal (ULN)
• Alkaline phosphatase ≤ 3.0 times ULN
• AST and ALT ≤ 3.0 times ULN
• Creatinine ≤ 1.5 times ULN
• No concurrent serious systemic disorder that, in the opinion of investigator, would compromise the patient's ability to complete the study

• No serious cardiac condition, including any of the following:

  • Myocardial infarction within the past 6 months
  • Angina
  • NYHA class III-IV heart disease
• No active infection requiring IV antibiotics, including active tuberculosis or HIV
• No other malignancy within the past 5 years except basal cell carcinoma of the skin or pre-invasive carcinoma of the cervix
• Able to comply with protocol or study procedures

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

• No prior radiotherapy or chemotherapy