Perifosine in Treating Patients With Recurrent or Metastatic Head and Neck Cancer

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: Histologically or cytologically confirmed squamous cell cancer of the head and neck Metastatic or recurrent disease Not amenable to surgery or radiotherapy Unidimensionally measurable disease At least 1 lesion at least 20 mm by conventional techniques OR at least 10 mm by CT scan No known brain metastases PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: Age 18 and over Performance status ECOG 0-2 OR Karnofsky 60-100% Life expectancy More than 3 months Hematopoietic WBC at least 3,000/mm^3 Absolute neutrophil count at least 1,500/mm^3 Platelet count at least 100,000/mm^3 Hepatic Bilirubin normal AST/ALT no greater than 2.5 times upper limit of normal Renal Creatinine normal OR Creatinine clearance at least 60 mL/min Cardiovascular No symptomatic congestive heart failure No unstable angina pectoris No cardiac arrhythmia Other Not pregnant or nursing Negative pregnancy test Fertile patients must use effective contraception No history of allergic reaction attributed to compounds of similar chemical or biological composition to perifosine No ongoing or active infection No other concurrent uncontrolled illness No psychiatric illness or social situation that would limit compliance with study requirements PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY: Biologic therapy No more than 1 prior biologic/targeted regimen for recurrent or metastatic disease Chemotherapy No more than 1 prior adjuvant or neoadjuvant chemotherapy and/or concurrent chemoradiotherapy regimen No more than 1 prior chemotherapy regimen for recurrent or metastatic disease At least 4 weeks since prior chemotherapy (6 weeks for nitrosoureas or mitomycin) Radiotherapy At least 4 weeks since prior radiotherapy Other Recovered from prior therapy No concurrent combination antiretroviral therapy for HIV-positive patients No other concurrent investigational agents No other concurrent anticancer agents or therapies