Fluorouracil, Cisplatin, and Radiation Therapy in Treating Patients With Stage II, Stage III, or Stage IV Nasopharyngeal Cancer

RATIONALE: Drugs used in chemotherapy, such as fluorouracil and cisplatin, work in different ways to stop tumor cells from dividing so they stop growing or die. Radiation therapy uses high-energy x-rays to damage tumor cells. Combining fluorouracil and cisplatin with radiation therapy may kill more tumor cells. PURPOSE: This phase II trial is studying how well giving fluorouracil and cisplatin together with radiation therapy works in treating patients with stage II, stage III, or stage IV nasopharyngeal cancer.