OSI-774/Cisplatin/Taxotere in Head & Neck Squamous Cell Cancer

Inclusion criteria

• . Have histologically or cytologically confirmed metastatic or recurrent head and neck squamous cell carcinoma from the primary lesion and/or lymph nodes of the oral cavity, oropharynx, hypopharynx, or larynx.
• . Have measurable disease, defined as at least one lesion that can be accurately measured in at least one dimension (longest diameter to be recorded) as \>= 20 mm with conventional techniques or as \>= 10 mm with spiral CT scan. See section 9.2 for the evaluation of measurable disease.
• . Have not received any prior systemic chemotherapy for metastatic or recurrent head and neck squamous cell carcinoma. If patients have received prior combined modality therapy, they must be off therapy for at least 6 months.
• . Be \>= 18 years of age.
• . No acute intercurrent illness or infection.
• . ECOG performance status =\<2 (Karnofsky =\>60%). Have normal organ and marrow function defined as: leukocytes=\>3,000/uL; absolute neutrophil count=\>1,500/uL; platelets =\>100,000/uL hemoglobin \>= 8g/dl; total bilirubin within normal institutional limits; AST(SGOT)/ALT(SGPT) =\<2.5 X institutional upper limit of normal if alkaline phosphate is \<ULN OR alkaline phosphatase may be up to 4x ULN if transaminases are \<ULN; creatinine =\<2.0 xULN OR creatinine clearance \>60 mL/min/1.73 m\*\*2 for patients with creatinine levels above institutional normal
• . The effects of OSI-774 on the developing human fetus at the recommended therapeutic dose are unknown. For this reason, as other therapeutic agents used in this trial are known to be teratogenic, women of child-bearing potential and men must agree to use adequate contraception (hormonal or barrier method of birth control; abstinence) prior to study entry, for the duration of study participation, and for 3 months after the completion of therapy. Should a woman become pregnant or suspect she is pregnant while participating in this study, she should inform her treating physician immediately.