Inclusion Criteria

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

- Histologically confirmed or high clinical suspicion of squamous cell carcinoma of the
oral cavity, oropharynx, hypopharynx, or larynx

- No carcinoma of sinonasal or nasopharynx

- Clinical stage T1-4, N0-2, M0 disease

- Tumor must be considered resectable with planned surgical excision

- No lymph nodes > 6 cm (N3)

- No distant metastasis

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

- Absolute neutrophil count ≥ 1,500/mm³

- Platelet count ≥ 100,000/mm³

- Hemoglobin ≥ 10 g/dL

- Creatinine ≤ 1.5 times upper limit of normal (ULN)

- Creatinine clearance ≥ 60 mL/min

- AST and ALT ≤ 2.5 times ULN

- Bilirubin normal

- History of prior malignancy allowed if there is no evidence of recurrence or
metastases at the time of screening

- No comorbidity that precludes operability

- No known liver impairment

- Known recent gastric or duodenal ulcer allowed if treated for > 6 weeks prior to
study enrollment

- No known hypersensitivity to celecoxib

- No known allergic reactions to sulfonamides, aspirin, or other NSAIDs

- No psychological, familial, sociological, or geographical condition that would
interfere with study compliance and follow-up schedule

- Not pregnant or nursing

- Negative pregnancy test

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

- More than 2 months since prior and no other concurrent anticancer or investigational
drugs

- More than 2 weeks since prior and no other concurrent nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory
drugs (NSAIDs) or corticosteroids

- No prior radiotherapy to the head and neck region

- No concurrent radiotherapy

- No concurrent therapeutic anticoagulation

- No concurrent administration of any of the following:

- Other cyclooxygenase-2 inhibitors

- Aspirin

- Low-dose aspirin for cardiovascular prophylaxis allowed

- Aluminum and magnesium-containing antacids

- ACE inhibitors

- Furosemide

- Known inhibitors of P450 2C9 (e.g., fluconazole, fluoxetine, fluvoxamin,
isoniazid, omeprazole)

- Known inducers of P450 2C9 (e.g., rifampin)

- Lithium

- Acenocoumarol