Inclusion Criteria

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

- Histologically diagnosed metastatic salivary gland cancer including:

- Adenoid cystic carcinoma

- Mucoepidermoid carcinoma

- Acinic cell carcinoma

- Malignant mixed tumor

- Polymorphous low grade adenocarcinoma

- Undifferentiated carcinoma

- Squamous cell carcinoma

- Adenocarcinoma

- Local or distant metastases

- Unresectable tumor

- Unidimensionally measurable disease

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

Age:

- 18 and over

Performance status:

- ECOG 0-2

Life expectancy:

- At least 3 months

Hematopoietic:

- Absolute neutrophil count at least 2000/mm3

- Platelet count at least 100,000/mm3

- Hemoglobin greater than 8.5 g/dL OR

- Hematocrit greater than 25%

Hepatic:

- Bilirubin less than 2 times upper limit of normal (ULN)

- AST less than 2 times ULN (less than 5 times ULN if liver involved)

- Alkaline phosphatase less than 5 times ULN (no limit if liver involved)

Renal:

- Creatinine less than 1.5 times ULN OR

- Creatinine clearance at least 50% of lower limit of normal

Cardiovascular:

- No congestive heart failure

Pulmonary:

- No chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

Other:

- At least 3 years since prior invasive neoplasm except:

- Nonmelanoma skin cancer

- Cervical cancer

- Not pregnant or nursing

- Fertile patients must use effective contraception

- No other significant active illness (e.g., uncontrolled diabetes, AIDS)

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

Biologic therapy:

- At least 28 days since prior immunotherapy

- No concurrent immunotherapy

Chemotherapy:

- No prior cytotoxic chemotherapy for disease

- No other concurrent chemotherapy

Endocrine therapy:

- At least 28 days since prior hormone therapy

- No concurrent hormone therapy

Radiotherapy:

- No concurrent radiotherapy

Surgery:

- Not specified

Other:

- At least 28 days since prior homeopathic, natural, or alternative therapies

- No concurrent homeopathic, natural, or alternative therapies