Flavopiridol in Treating Patients With Recurrent or Metastatic Head and Neck Cancer

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

* Histologically proven squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck

  * Metastatic disease at diagnosis OR
  * Persistent, metastatic, or recurrent disease after prior definitive surgery and/or radiotherapy
* No undifferentiated and nonkeratinizing carcinomas, including lymphoepitheliomas of all locations
* No nasopharynx tumors
* Bidimensionally measurable disease

  * Patients whose only measurable disease is within a prior radiotherapy port must have clearly progressive disease
* No metastatic or leptomeningeal CNS disease

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

Age:

* 18 and over

Performance status:

* ECOG 0-2

Life expectancy:

* Not specified

Hematopoietic:

* Platelet count greater than 100,000/mm\^3
* Absolute granulocyte count greater than 1,500/mm\^3

Hepatic:

* See Other (Prior/Concurrent Therapy)
* SGOT and SGPT less than 2.5 times normal
* Bilirubin less than 1.5 times normal
* No history of hypercoagulopathies (e.g., protein C deficiency, protein S deficiency, or lupus anticoagulant)

Renal:

* Creatinine no greater than 1.5 mg/dL OR
* Creatinine clearance at least 60 mL/min
* Calcium no greater than normal
* No hypercalcemia refractory to bisphosphonates

Cardiovascular:

* No unstable or newly diagnosed angina pectoris
* No myocardial infarction within the past 6 months
* No class II-IV congestive heart failure
* No history of symptomatic carotid disease
* No concurrent asymptomatic carotid artery occlusion (70% or greater) in one or both arteries by Doppler ultrasound
* No symptomatic atherosclerosis
* No thrombotic events within the past 6 months

Pulmonary:

* No aspirin-induced asthma

Other:

* No inability to take aspirin or clopidogrel bisulfate due to contraindications, allergies, or pre-existing medical conditions (e.g., active peptic ulcer disease or history of undiagnosed non-occult, non-hemorrhoidal gastrointestinal or other bleeding sources within the past 6 months)
* No other prior malignancy within the past 5 years except adequately treated basal cell or squamous cell skin cancer, carcinoma in situ of the cervix, or adequately treated stage I or II cancer that is currently in complete remission
* HIV negative
* Not pregnant or nursing
* Negative pregnancy test
* Fertile patients must use effective contraception during and for 3 months after study

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

Biologic therapy:

* No concurrent biologic therapy

Chemotherapy:

* At least 4 weeks since prior chemotherapy and recovered
* No prior flavopiridol
* No more than 3 prior systemic chemotherapy regimens for recurrent or metastatic disease
* No other concurrent chemotherapy

Endocrine therapy:

* No concurrent hormonal therapy except oral contraceptives

Radiotherapy:

* See Disease Characteristics
* At least 4 weeks since prior radiotherapy and recovered
* No concurrent radiotherapy

Surgery:

* See Disease Characteristics
* At least 4 weeks since prior surgery and recovered
* No prior carotid endarterectomy or other revascularization surgery

Other:

* No other concurrent antineoplastic therapies
* No active anticoagulation with INR 1.5 or greater
* No low-molecular weight heparin or equivalent
* Concurrent bisphosphonates for calcium maintenance allowed