BMS-247550 Plus Cisplatin in Treating Patients With Metastatic or Recurrent Head and Neck Cancer

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: Histologically confirmed squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck considered incurable by surgery or radiotherapy No nasopharyngeal disease as primary site Extensive, local-regional or distant metastatic disease Newly diagnosed OR Recurrent disease after initial treatment with surgery or radiotherapy (including neoadjuvant chemotherapy or concurrent chemoradiotherapy) Measurable disease If only site of measurable disease is in a previously irradiated area, disease progression after radiotherapy must be documented PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: Age 18 and over Performance status ECOG 0-1 Hematopoietic Granulocyte count at least 1,500/mm^3 Platelet count at least 100,000/mm^3 Hepatic Bilirubin no greater than 2.0 mg/dL Transaminases no greater than 2 times upper limit of normal (ULN) (5 times ULN if liver involvement) Renal Creatinine no greater than 1.5 mg/dL Other Not pregnant or nursing Negative pregnancy test Fertile patients must use effective contraception No evidence of active infection No other malignancy within the past 2 years except curatively treated stage 0 or I cancer PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY: Chemotherapy No prior chemotherapy for recurrent disease Radiotherapy At least 6 months since prior radiotherapy and recovered Surgery Recovered from prior surgery