Cisplatin, Fluorouracil, Iressa, and Radiation Therapy Patients With Locally Advanced Head and Neck Cancer

RATIONALE: Drugs used in chemotherapy, such as cisplatin and fluorouracil, work in different ways to stop the growth of tumor cells, either by killing the cells or by stopping them from dividing. Gefitinib may stop the growth of tumor cells by blocking some of the enzymes needed for cell growth. Radiation therapy uses high-energy x-rays to kill tumor cells. Giving cisplatin, fluorouracil, and gefitinib together with radiation therapy may kill more tumor cells. PURPOSE: This phase I/II trial is studying the side effects of giving cisplatin, fluorouracil, and gefitinib together with hyperfractionated radiation therapy and to see how well they work in treating patients with locally advanced head and neck cancer.