PEG-interferon Alfa-2b in Treating Patients With Stage II, Stage III, or Stage IV Head and Neck Cancer That Can Be Removed By Surgery

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

* Histologically confirmed squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck

  * Stage II, III, or IV disease
  * One of the following primary tumor sites:

    * Oral cavity
    * Oropharynx
    * Hypopharynx
    * Larynx
* Resectable disease

  * Scheduled to undergo surgery as primary treatment

    * Distant metastases or a second primary tumor allowed provided tumor deemed resectable by the surgeon
* No squamous cell carcinoma of the nasopharynx or skin

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

* Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status 0-2
* White Blood Cells (WBC) \> 3,000/mm\^3
* Platelet count ≥ 150,000/mm\^3
* Hemoglobin ≥ 10 g/dL

  * Transfusion and/or epoetin alfa support allowed provided it is given ≥ 1 week before study entry AND the patient is stable
* Bilirubin \< 1.5 times upper limit of normal (ULN)
* serum glutamic pyruvic transaminase (SGPT) ≤ 5 times ULN
* Creatinine \< 1.5 times ULN
* No hemolytic anemia
* No hemoglobinopathies (e.g., thalassemia)
* No prior or current ascites
* No bleeding varices
* No other evidence of decompensated liver disease
* No symptomatic ischemic heart disease
* No symptomatic congestive heart failure
* No other uncontrolled heart condition
* No chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
* No documented pulmonary hypertension
* No other chronic pulmonary disease
* No known HIV positivity
* No AIDS-related illness
* No active uncontrolled infection
* No immunologically mediated disease, including any of the following:

  * Inflammatory bowel disease (e.g., Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis)
  * Rheumatoid arthritis
  * Idiopathic thrombocytopenia purpura
  * Systemic lupus erythematosus
  * Autoimmune hemolytic anemia
  * Scleroderma
  * Severe psoriasis
* No Central Nervous System (CNS) trauma
* No confusion or disorientation
* No active seizure disorders requiring medication
* No spontaneous encephalopathy
* Not pregnant or nursing
* Negative pregnancy test
* Fertile patients must use effective contraception
* No pre-existing uncontrolled thyroid abnormality
* No poorly controlled diabetes mellitus
* No history of major psychiatric illness that would prelude giving informed consent
* No nonmalignant systemic disease that would preclude study participation

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

* More than 4 weeks since prior biologic therapy and recovered
* More than 4 weeks since prior chemotherapy and recovered
* More than 4 weeks since prior radiotherapy and recovered
* More than 4 weeks since prior surgery
* No prior interferon
* No other concurrent immunotherapy
* No concurrent chemotherapy
* No concurrent hormonal antineoplastic therapy
* No concurrent systemic corticosteroids
* No concurrent radiotherapy