OBJECTIVES: I. Determine the safety and biological activity of EGFR antisense DNA and DC-chol liposomes in patients with advanced squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck. II. Determine the toxicity and maximum tolerated dose of this regimen in these patients. III. Determine the antitumor response in patients treated with this regimen. IV. Determine the effect of this regimen on EGFR expression levels, STAT protein expression/activation levels, and apoptosis rates in biopsied tumor cells of these patients.