Chemotherapy and Radiation Therapy in Treating Patients With Stage III or Stage IV Larynx or Oropharynx Cancer

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