SU5416 and Paclitaxel in Treating Patients With Recurrent, Locally Advanced or Metastatic Cancer of the Head and Neck

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: Metastatic or loco-regionally recurrent malignancy of the head and neck (including salivary gland and thyroid) that is incurable by surgery or radiotherapy At least two distinct tumor masses OR One tumor mass at least 3 cm in diameter No brain metastases No pulmonary metastases as only site of disease PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: Age: 18 and over Performance status: ECOG 0-2 Life expectancy: At least 12 weeks Hematopoietic: WBC at least 3,500/mm3 Granulocyte count at least 1,500/mm3 Platelet count at least 100,000/mm3 Hemoglobin greater than 9.0 g/dL Hepatic: PT and PTT normal OR INR ratio less than 1.1 Bilirubin less than 1.5 mg/dL AST and ALT less than 2 times upper limit of normal Renal: Creatinine less than 1.5 mg/dL Creatinine clearance greater than 60 mL/min Cardiovascular: No New York Heart Association class III or IV heart disease No uncompensated coronary artery disease No history of myocardial infarction or severe or unstable angina within the past 6 months No severe peripheral vascular disease No deep venous thrombosis or arterial thrombosis within the past 6 months No known hypercoagulable syndrome with predisposition to venous or arterial clots Pulmonary: No pulmonary embolism within the past 6 months Other: No prior cerebral hemorrhage Not pregnant or nursing Negative pregnancy test Fertile patients must use effective contraception PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY: Biologic therapy: Not specified Chemotherapy: At least 3 weeks since palliative chemotherapy (6 weeks for mitomycin or nitrosoureas) and recovered At least 4 weeks since combined chemoradiotherapy and recovered Must be recovered from prior taxanes Endocrine therapy: Not specified Radiotherapy: See Disease Characteristics At least 4 weeks since prior large field radiotherapy and recovered Surgery: Not specified