Radiation + Cisplatin or Panitumumab in Locally Advanced Stage III or Stage IV Head and Neck Cancer

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

* Histologically and/or cytologically confirmed (primary lesion or regional lymph nodes) squamous cell carcinoma of the oral cavity, oropharynx, larynx, or hypopharynx

  * Locally advanced disease, defined by any of the following criteria:

    * Any T, N+, M0
    * T3-4, N0, M0
* No current history of unknown primary squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck, primary nasopharyngeal, paranasal, or salivary gland tumors of the head and neck

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

* ECOG performance status 0-1
* Absolute granulocyte count ≥ 1.5 x 10\^9/L
* Platelet count ≥ 100 x 10\^9/L
* Bilirubin ≤ 1.5 times upper limit of normal (ULN)
* AST or ALT ≤ 3 times ULN
* Creatinine clearance \> 50 mL/min
* Magnesium \> 0.5 mmol/L
* Not pregnant or nursing
* Negative pregnancy test
* Fertile patients must use effective contraception during and for ≥ 6 months after completion of study treatment
* Must be accessible for treatment and follow-up
* Able (sufficiently fluent) and willing to complete the quality of life (QOL) and swallowing QOL questionnaires in either English or French
* Must be assessed by a radiation oncologist and medical oncologist and deemed suitable for study participation
* No other malignancies within the past 5 years, except adequately treated nonmelanoma skin cancer, curatively treated in-situ cancer of the cervix, or other curatively treated solid tumors
* No history of allergic or hypersensitivity reactions to any of the study drugs or their excipients
* No prior or concurrent interstitial lung disease (e.g., pneumonitis or pulmonary fibrosis) on baseline CT scan
* No peripheral neuropathy ≥ grade 2 (CTCAE v3.0)
* No hearing loss/tinnitus ≥ grade 3 (CTCAE v3.0)
* No thromboembolic event within the past 12 months despite being treated with anticoagulation drugs

  * Prior thromboembolic event \> 12 months allowed provided patient is stable on anticoagulation or on preventative anticoagulation
* None of the following allowed:

  * Myocardial infarction within the past 12 months
  * Uncontrolled severe congestive heart failure
  * Unstable angina
  * Active cardiomyopathy
  * Unstable ventricular arrhythmia
  * Uncontrolled hypertension
  * Uncontrolled psychiatric disorder
  * Active serious infection
  * Active peptic ulcer disease
  * Any other medical condition that might interfere with protocol therapy delivery

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

* No prior surgical treatment except diagnostic biopsy for this disease
* No prior induction chemotherapy for this disease
* No prior radiation to the head and neck region that would result in overlap of fields for this study
* No prior cisplatin or carboplatin chemotherapy
* No prior targeted anti-EGFR therapy of any kind
* At least 30 days since any prior investigational agent
* No concurrent granulocytic growth factors (e.g., filgrastim \[G-CSF\]) during radiotherapy
* No concurrent erythropoietic growth factors, pilocarpine, amifostine, other anticancer therapy (e.g., cytotoxic agents, biological response modifiers, immunotherapy, or hormonal therapy), or other investigational drug therapy
* The following radiological investigations must be done within 8 weeks of randomization:

  * MRI or CT of the head and neck
  * CT chest