PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: Age: Over 18 Performance status: SWOG 0 or 1 Life expectancy: Not specified Hematopoietic: WBC greater than 3,500/mm3 Platelet count greater than 50,000/mm3 Hemoglobin greater than 10.0 g/dL Hepatic: Not specified Renal: Not specified Cardiovascular: At least 3 months since prior myocardial infarction No uncontrolled congestive heart failure No unstable or uncontrolled angina Other: No prior malignancy except for the following: Adequately treated basal cell or squamous cell skin cancer In situ cervical cancer Other cancer for which the patient has been disease-free for at least five years No history of prior laryngeal cancer No history of primary tumors of any aerodigestive tract site except disease site All fertile patients must use an effective contraceptive method Must be medically able to undergo general anesthesia No psychological, familial, sociological or geographical conditions that do not permit medical follow-up and compliance with study protocol No other unstable or pre-existing major medical condition