OBJECTIVES:~I. Determine the effect of thalidomide on survival of patients with recurrent or metastatic squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck.~II. Determine clinical response rates following this therapy in these patients. III. Determine the toxic effects of thalidomide in these patients. IV. Determine the effect of thalidomide on tumor angiogenesis in these patients.~OUTLINE:~Patients receive 4-20 capsules of oral thalidomide once daily. Dose is escalated in individual patients on a weekly basis for the first 5 weeks. Treatment continues in the absence of disease progression or unacceptable toxicity, or for 12 months past complete response.
Phase II trial to study the effectiveness of thalidomide in treating patients with recurrent or metastatic head and neck cancer. Thalidomide may stop the growth of head and neck cancer by stopping blood flow to the tumor.