DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: Histologically proven squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (SCCHN) Recurrent disease documented by histology or cytology (excluding endolaryngeal recurrence) following first line therapy with curative intent, such as: Radiation (at least 5000 cGy by standard methodology) and/or Surgery (definitive resection with postoperative radiation as indicated) Lesions accessible to intratumoral injections Bidimensionally measurable disease The sum of the products of the bidirectional measurements for all bidimensionally measurable lesions must be not greater than 30 cm2 The sum of the longest diameters of all measurable lesions must be not greater than 10 cm No CNS metastasis Tumor tissue from biopsy of primary or recurrent tumor must be available to determine p53 mutation status