Inclusion Criteria

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

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

- Must have undergone complete macroscopic resection

- Presence of ≥ 1 of the following poor prognostic factors after complete resection:

- Incomplete microscopic resection and N+

- Complete microscopic resection and > 2 N+

- Vascular and/or lymphatic embolism

- At least 2 peripheral nerve invasions

- Positive surgical margins and pT4 lesion

- No metastases

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

- WHO performance status 0-2

- ANC > 1,500/mm^3

- Platelet count > 100,000/mm^3

- Hemoglobin > 9 g/dL

- Bilirubin < 1.5 times upper limit of normal (ULN)

- Serum creatinine < 1.25 times ULN and/or creatinine clearance > 55 mL/min

- Not pregnant or nursing

- Fertile patients must use effective contraception

- No serious and disabling cardiac, renal, hepatic, or respiratory failure

- No coronary artery disease or myocardial infarction within the past year

- No uncontrolled cardiac arrhythmia

- Other active and serious diseases allowed at discretion of the investigator

- No known severe allergy to cisplatin, cetuximab, or any of their excipients

- No other malignant disease diagnosed within the past 5 years except for basal cell
carcinoma of the skin or in situ cervical cancer

- No psychological, familial, social, or geographic situations that preclude clinical
follow up

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

- No prior treatment (except surgery) for this cancer or another head and neck cancer

- At least 3 months since prior treatment with an investigational agent