Inclusion Criteria

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

- Histologically or cytologically confirmed squamous cell cancer of the head and neck

- Metastatic or recurrent disease

- Not amenable to surgery or radiotherapy

- Unidimensionally measurable disease

- At least 1 lesion at least 20 mm by conventional techniques OR at least 10 mm by
CT scan

- No known brain metastases

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

Age

- 18 and over

Performance status

- ECOG 0-2 OR

- Karnofsky 60-100%

Life expectancy

- More than 3 months

Hematopoietic

- WBC at least 3,000/mm^3

- Absolute neutrophil count at least 1,500/mm^3

- Platelet count at least 100,000/mm^3

Hepatic

- Bilirubin normal

- AST/ALT no greater than 2.5 times upper limit of normal

Renal

- Creatinine normal OR

- Creatinine clearance at least 60 mL/min

Cardiovascular

- No symptomatic congestive heart failure

- No unstable angina pectoris

- No cardiac arrhythmia

Other

- Not pregnant or nursing

- Negative pregnancy test

- Fertile patients must use effective contraception

- No history of allergic reaction attributed to compounds of similar chemical or
biological composition to perifosine

- No ongoing or active infection

- No other concurrent uncontrolled illness

- No psychiatric illness or social situation that would limit compliance with study
requirements

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

Biologic therapy

- No more than 1 prior biologic/targeted regimen for recurrent or metastatic disease

Chemotherapy

- No more than 1 prior adjuvant or neoadjuvant chemotherapy and/or concurrent
chemoradiotherapy regimen

- No more than 1 prior chemotherapy regimen for recurrent or metastatic disease

- At least 4 weeks since prior chemotherapy (6 weeks for nitrosoureas or mitomycin)

Radiotherapy

- At least 4 weeks since prior radiotherapy

Other

- Recovered from prior therapy

- No concurrent combination antiretroviral therapy for HIV-positive patients

- No other concurrent investigational agents

- No other concurrent anticancer agents or therapies