DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: Histologically proven squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck that is incurable with surgery or radiotherapy No nasopharyngeal primaries Measurable or evaluable disease Newly diagnosed with extensive, incurable local regional disease AND distant metastases OR Local regional recurrence/persistence or distant metastases after surgery or radiotherapy Persistent or progressive disease after radiotherapy must be histologically proven at least 8 weeks after therapy No brain metastases