Isotretinoin, Interferon Alfa, and Vitamin E in Treating Patients With Stage III or Stage IV Head and Neck Cancer

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

Histologically confirmed squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck

Primary site must be within the oral cavity, oropharynx, larynx, or hypopharynx
Stage III or IV primary lesion at diagnosis
No distant metastatic disease at diagnosis
No multiple primary lesions

Currently disease-free after treatment with 1 of the following:

Complete tumor resection
Radiotherapy or chemoradiotherapy alone*
Resection followed by radiotherapy/chemoradiotherapy*
No more than 4-16 weeks since prior surgery and/or radiotherapy/chemoradiotherapy NOTE: *Radiotherapy must have been 70-72 Gy in 1.8-2.0 Gy fractions to the primary tumor and clinically positive neck nodes and 44-50 Gy in 1.8-2.0 Gy fractions to clinically negative nodes, including the lower neck

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

Age

18 and over

Performance status

ECOG 0-1

Life expectancy

Not specified

Hematopoietic

Absolute neutrophil count at least 1,500/mm^3
Platelet count at least 100,000/mm^3

Hepatic

Bilirubin no greater than 1.5 mg/dL
AST and ALT no greater than 2 times upper limit of normal (ULN)
Alkaline phosphatase no greater than 2 times ULN

Renal

Creatinine no greater than 1.2 mg/dL

Other

Not pregnant or nursing
Negative pregnancy test
Fertile patients must use effective contraception for 1 month prior to, during, and for 1 month after study therapy
Electrolytes normal
Fasting serum triglyceride level no greater than 2 times ULN (anti-triglyceride medication allowed)
No other malignancy within the past 2 years except localized basal cell or squamous cell skin cancer
No other concurrent medical condition that would preclude study compliance

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

Biologic therapy

Not specified

Chemotherapy

See Disease Characteristics

At least 4 weeks since prior chemotherapy and recovered

Prior neoadjuvant chemotherapy allowed
Prior chemotherapy administered concurrently with radiotherapy allowed
No other concurrent chemotherapy

Endocrine therapy

Not specified

Radiotherapy

See Disease Characteristics
Recovered from prior radiotherapy

Surgery

See Disease Characteristics
Recovered from prior surgery

Other

No history of megadose vitamin A (more than 25,000 I.U.)
No other clinical trial enrollment that would preclude adjuvant systemic therapy
No concurrent vitamin supplements containing vitamin A