Inclusion Criteria

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

- Histologically proven stage II or III (T1-T2, N0-N1) squamous cell carcinoma of the
oropharynx (tonsil, base of tongue, or palate)

- Lymph nodes in both sides of neck at risk of metastatic disease and require
radiotherapy

- Patients upstaged by imaging to N2 are eligible

- Measurable or evaluable disease

- Greater than 1 cm in one dimension or with necrotic regions if by CT or MRI scan

- Surgery of the primary tumor or lymph nodes limited to incisional or excisional
biopsies

- No distant metastases

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

Age:

- Over 18

Performance status:

- Zubrod 0-1

Life expectancy:

- Not specified

Hematopoietic:

- Not specified

Hepatic:

- Not specified

Renal:

- Not specified

Other:

- No active untreated infection

- No other malignancy within the past 5 years except nonmelanoma skin cancer or a
carcinoma not of head or neck origin

- No concurrent major medical or psychiatric illness that would preclude study

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

Biologic therapy:

- Not specified

Chemotherapy:

- More than 3 months since prior chemotherapy

- No concurrent chemotherapy

Endocrine therapy:

- Not specified

Radiotherapy:

- No prior head or neck radiotherapy

Surgery:

- See Disease Characteristics

Other:

- No other concurrent treatment for head and neck cancer

- No prophylactic amifostine or pilocarpine