Inclusion Criteria

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

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

- Stage pT1-2 pN+ or pT3-4 any pN (stage III-IVB) disease

- No distant metastases

- No recurrent disease

- Resectable disease

- Has undergone surgical resection of carcinoma

- p16 immunohistochemistry assay performed on tissue sections taken during
the surgical procedure

- No laser surgery

- Potentially at high-risk of locoregional recurrence, defined as fulfilling ≥ 1 of the
following criteria:

- Close surgical margins (i.e., margins 1 mm to < 5 mm)

- R1-resection (< 1 mm) (R2 resection is considered as not eligible)

- Extracapsular nodal extension

- No nasopharynx, nasal cavity, or paranasal sinuses carcinomas

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

- WHO or ECOG performance status 0-1

- Absolute neutrophils ≥ 1.5 x 10^9/L

- Platelet count ≥ 100 x 10^9/L

- Hemoglobin ≥ 10.0 g/dL

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

- AST< 3 times ULN

- Alkaline phosphatase < 3 times ULN

- Calculated creatinine clearance ≥ 60 mL/min

- Calcium ≤ 11.5 mg/dL or 2.9 mmol/L

- Magnesium ≥ 1.2 mg/dL or 0.5 mmol/L

- Fertile patients must use effective contraception methods during the study and for 6
months after the last treatment dose

- Not pregnant or nursing

- No known allergic or hypersensitivity reaction to any of the components of the study
treatment

- No other concurrent serious illnesses or medical conditions, including any of the
following:

- History or evidence of interstitial pneumonitis or pulmonary fibrosis

- Unstable cardiac disease despite treatment

- NYHA class III-IV congestive heart failure

- Clinically significant abnormal ECG or LVEF below the institutional lower limit
of normal

- Known HIV infection or other conditions of persistent immunodeficiency

- Significant neurologic or psychiatric disorders

- Active uncontrolled infection

- Active disseminated intravascular coagulation

- Symptomatic peripheral neuropathy (CTCAE 4.0 "peripheral sensory neuropathy and
paresthesia") ≥ grade 2 or ototoxicity (CTCAE 4.0 "hearing impaired") ≥ grade 2,
unless due to trauma or mechanical impairment due to tumor mass

- Other serious underlying medical conditions that could impair the ability of the
patient to participate in the study

- No other malignancy within the past 5 years other than basal cell or squamous cell
carcinoma of the skin or in situ carcinoma of the cervix

- Patients who are disease-free for > 5 years allowed

- No known drug abuse

- No psychological, familial, sociological (e.g., severe alcohol addiction expected to
hamper protocol compliance), or geographical condition potentially hampering
compliance with the study protocol and follow-up schedule

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

- No prior chemotherapy or radiotherapy for carcinoma of the head and neck

- No prior radiotherapy to the head and neck region

- No prior exposure to EGFR pathway-targeting therapy

- No participation in another interventional clinical trial within the past 30 days

- No concurrent granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) or erythropoietin

- No other concurrent investigational drugs and/or anticancer treatment