Everolimus, Carboplatin, and Paclitaxel in Locally Advanced Head and Neck Cancer That Cannot Be Removed by Surgery

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

* Histologically confirmed squamous cell carcinoma of the oral cavity, oropharynx, larynx, or hypopharynx

  * Locally advanced disease (T4 N0-N3 disease)
  * Unresectable disease OR resectable disease with surgery contra-indication
  * No stage I, II, III, or IVc disease
* Measurable lesions defined as those accurately measured in ≥ 1 dimension (longest diameter to be recorded) as ≥ 20 mm with conventional techniques or as ≥ 10 mm with spiral CT scan
* No known brain metastases (cerebral CT scan is not required if no symptom is present)

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

* WHO performance status 0-2
* Life expectancy \> 3 months
* Absolute neutrophil count ≥ 1,500/mm³
* Platelet count ≥ 100,000/mm³
* Hemoglobin ≥ 9 g/dL
* Total bilirubin ≤ 1.25 times upper limit of normal (ULN)
* Transaminases ≤ 2.5 times ULN
* Alkaline phosphatase ≤ 5 times ULN
* Creatinine clearance ≥ 60 mL/min
* Glycemia ≤ 1.5 times ULN
* Cholesterol level ≤ 7.30 mmol/L
* Serum total protein normal
* Oxygen saturation \> 88%
* Able to swallow pills
* Not pregnant or nursing
* Negative pregnancy test
* Fertile patients must use effective contraception during and for 3 months after completion of study treatment
* No preexisting neuropathy ≥ grade 2
* No uncontrolled disease including any of the following:

  * Diabetes
  * Hypertension
  * Symptomatic congestive heart or pulmonary failure
  * Renal or hepatic chronic disease
  * Severe infectious disease
* No active hemorrhagic syndrome
* No prior history of cancer within the past 5 years, except in situ cervical cancer and basal cell skin carcinoma
* No psychological, familial, sociological, or geographical condition potentially hampering compliance with the study protocol and follow-up schedule
* Registration in a national health care system (CMU included)
* Not eligible for organ preservation program

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

* No prior therapy for this cancer
* No prior chemotherapy unless received for treatment of another primary tumor considered in remission
* No prior investigational drug
* More than 30 days since prior participation in another therapeutic trial
* No prior or concurrent radiotherapy (except anterior radiotherapy) unless received for treatment of another primary tumor considered in remission
* No concurrent CYP3A4 strong inhibitors (e.g., azole antimycotics \[itraconazole, ketoconazole\], HIV protease inhibitor \[ritonavir\], erythromycin, anti-epileptic drugs \[phenytoin, carbamazepine\])
* No concurrent anti-coagulant therapy