Induction Chemotherapy Using Doxorubicin and Cisplatin Followed by Combretastatin A4 Phosphate and Radiation Therapy in Treating Patients With Newly Diagnosed Regionally Advanced Anaplastic Thyroid Cancer

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

* Histologically confirmed anaplastic or poorly differentiated variant thyroid carcinoma of either of the following:

  * Regionally advanced disease

    * Confined to the neck and/or superior mediastinum (i.e., above the level of the carina)
    * Measurable or evaluable\* disease
  * Completely resected disease without measurable or evaluable disease NOTE: \*At a minimum, abnormalities on physical exam or radiographic studies that may not be precisely measured but readily followed
* Must have original/diagnostic tumor blocks available to confirm histopathology and for tumor microvessel density immunohistochemistry

  * Patients with no available original/diagnostic tumor blocks must have tumor accessible for pretreatment needle core biopsy
* Must undergo indirect and direct laryngoscopy to ensure patency of the trachea/airway if deemed inoperable, with bulky thyroid/neck masses and/or suspicion of airway obstruction
* No distant metastases, including but not limited to, brain metastases, disease below the level of the carina, pulmonary parenchyma, and hepatic or bony metastases

  * Superior mediastinal disease (i.e., above the level of the carina) in addition to regional neck disease is allowed provided the disease can be contained in a single radiotherapy port

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

Age

* 18 and over

Performance status

* ECOG 0-2

Life expectancy

* At least 12 weeks

Hematopoietic

* Absolute granulocyte count ≥ 1,500/mm\^3
* Platelet count ≥ 75,000/mm\^3
* Hemoglobin ≥ 8.5 g/dL

Hepatic

* Bilirubin ≤ 1.5 mg/dL
* ALT and AST ≤ 3.5 times upper limit of normal

Renal

* Creatinine ≤ 1.5 mg/dL

Cardiovascular

* LVEF ≥ 50% by echocardiogram
* EKG normal
* No prior angina
* No prior myocardial infarction (e.g., significant Q waves), QTc \> 450 msec, or other clinically significant abnormalities on ECG
* No congestive heart failure
* No uncontrolled atrial arrhythmias or clinically significant arrhythmias, including any of the following:

  * Conduction abnormality
  * Nodal junctional arrhythmias and dysrhythmias
  * Sinus bradycardia or tachycardia
  * Supraventricular arrhythmias
  * Atrial fibrillation or flutter
  * Syncope or vasovagal episodes
* No significant heart wall abnormality or heart muscle damage by echocardiogram
* No uncontrolled hypertension (i.e., blood pressure consistently greater than 150/100 mm Hg irrespective of medication)

  * Hypertension is allowed provided there is clinical documentation of controlled blood pressure for 2 months before study entry
* No symptomatic peripheral vascular disease or cerebrovascular disease

Other

* Not pregnant or nursing
* Negative pregnancy test
* Fertile patients must use effective contraception
* No uncontrolled hypokalemia or hypomagnesemia
* No concurrent serious infection
* No other nonmalignant uncontrolled medical illness or one whose control may be jeopardized by the complications of study therapy
* No grade 2 or greater pre-existing motor or sensory peripheral neuropathy
* No psychiatric disorder or other condition that would preclude study compliance
* No conditions associated with QTc prolongation

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

Biologic therapy

* No concurrent biologic therapy
* No concurrent immunotherapy

Chemotherapy

* No prior chemotherapy
* No other concurrent chemotherapy

Endocrine therapy

* No concurrent hormonal therapy, except for the following:

  * Gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonists for patients with hormone-refractory prostate cancer
  * Hormone replacement therapy
  * Oral contraceptives
  * Megestrol for anorexia/cachexia

Radiotherapy

* No prior radiotherapy
* No concurrent radiotherapy

Surgery

* See Disease Characteristics
* Prior attempt at resection or cytoreduction (e.g., debulking) surgery irrespective of surgical margins allowed provided there are no distant metastases
* At least 1 week but no more than 8 weeks since prior surgery and recovered

Other

* No other concurrent cytotoxic therapy
* No other concurrent antineoplastic therapy
* No other concurrent investigational therapy
* No concurrent medications known to prolong the QTc interval unless the medication can be held for at least 4 days during each treatment course