Cetuximab and Stereotactic Radiation Therapy in Treating Patients With Recurrent Head and Neck Cancer That Cannot Be Removed By Surgery

RATIONALE: Monoclonal antibodies, such as cetuximab, can block tumor growth in different ways. Some block the ability of tumor cells to grow and spread. Others find tumor cells and help kill them or carry tumor-killing substances to them. Radiation therapy uses high-energy x-rays to kill tumor cells. Stereotactic radiation therapy may be able to send x-rays directly to the tumor and cause less damage to normal tissue. Giving cetuximab together with stereotactic radiation therapy may kill more tumor cells. PURPOSE: This phase II trial is studying how giving cetuximab together with stereotactic radiation therapy works in treating patients with recurrent squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck cancer that cannot be removed by surgery.