Inclusion Criteria

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

- Histologically confirmed stage III or IV (T2-T4) squamous cell carcinoma of the
larynx or oropharynx

- No recurrent disease

- No evidence of distant metastasis

- Resectable disease, defined as follows:

- High probability of attaining clear surgical margins (for disease of the base of
tongue, tonsil, soft palate, or pharyngeal wall)

- No extension to root of tongue (for disease of the base of tongue)

- No extension into pterygoid by radiograph (for disease of the tonsil, soft
palate, or pharyngeal wall)

- No primary tumor or nodal metastases fixed to the carotid artery or cervical
spine (for disease of the base of tongue, tonsil, soft palate, or pharyngeal
wall)

- No trismus (for disease of the tonsil, soft palate, or pharyngeal wall)

- No involvement of the trachea greater than 1 cm or any involvement of the
esophagus (for disease of the subglottis)

- For disease of the supraglottis, glottis, or subglottis:

- No base of the tongue invasion greater than 2 cm

- No tumor extension through cartilage to involve strap muscles of the neck

- No tumor fixation to prevertebral fascia

- No involvement of the carotid artery

- No fixed nodal disease with involvement of the deep neck

- Extension into pyriform sinus or lateral pharyngeal wall allowed if no
extension into posterior pharynx

- Measurable disease

- - Lesions accurately measured in at least one dimension as > 20 mm (2.0 cm) with
conventional techniques or as > 10 mm (1.0 cm) with spiral CT scan

- Cytologic or histologic evidence of neoplasm is needed for measurable disease
restricted to a solitary lesion

- No other concurrent head and neck neoplasms

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

Age

- 18 and over

Performance status

- ECOG 0-2

Life expectancy

- Not specified

Hematopoietic

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

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

Hepatic

- Not specified

Renal

- Creatinine less than 3.0 mg/dL

- Calcium normal

Cardiovascular

- No significant cardiac disease

- No uncontrolled hypertension

- No unstable angina

- No congestive heart failure

- No myocardial infarction within the past year

- No serious cardiac arrhythmias requiring medication

Other

- Not pregnant or nursing

- Negative pregnancy test

- Fertile patients must use effective contraception during and for at least 3 months
after study completion

- No significant detectable infection

- No history of allergy to drugs containing Cremophor EL

- No history of allergy to mammalian cell-derived products (epoetin alfa) or human
albumin

- No other malignancy within the past 3 years except basal or squamous cell skin cancer
or carcinoma in situ of the cervix

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

Biologic therapy

- Not specified

Chemotherapy

- No prior chemotherapy

- No concurrent amifostine

Endocrine therapy

- Not specified

Radiotherapy

- No prior radiotherapy above the clavicles

Surgery

- No prior surgery to the primary tumor except biopsy or debulking

Other

- No concurrent experimental mucosal protectants