DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

          -  Pathologically proven diagnosis of a malignant major salivary gland tumor or malignant
             minor salivary gland tumor of the head and neck of the following histologic subtypes:

               -  Intermediate-grade adenocarcinoma or intermediate-grade mucoepidermoid carcinoma

               -  High-grade acinic cell carcinoma or high-grade (>30% solid component) adenoid
                  cystic carcinoma

          -  Surgical resection with curative intent within 8 weeks prior to registration

          -  All patients must have a Medical Oncology evaluation within 4 weeks prior to
             registration

          -  Pathologic stage T3-4 or N1-3 or T1-2, N0 with a close (≤ 1mm) or microscopically
             positive surgical margin; patients must be free of distant metastases based upon the
             following minimum diagnostic workup:

               -  History/physical examination within 8 weeks prior to registration

               -  Radiologic confirmation of the absence of hematogenous metastasis within 12 weeks
                  prior to registration; at a minimum, contrast CT imaging of the chest is required
                  (PET/CT is acceptable)

          -  No patients with residual macroscopic disease after surgery

          -  No prior systemic chemotherapy or radiation therapy for salivary gland malignancy

        PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

          -  Zubrod performance status 0-1

          -  Absolute neutrophil count (ANC) ≥ 1,800 cells/mm^3

          -  Platelets ≥ 100,000 cells/mm^3

          -  Hemoglobin ≥ 8.0 g/dL (the use of transfusion or other intervention to achieve
             hemoglobin ≥ 8.0 g/dL is acceptable)

          -  Serum creatinine < 2.0 mg/dL

          -  Total bilirubin < 2 x the institutional upper limit of normal (ULN)

          -  Aspartate aminotransferase (AST) or alanine aminotransferase (ALT) < 3 x the
             institutional ULN

          -  Negative serum pregnancy test within 2 weeks prior to registration for women of
             childbearing potential

          -  Women of childbearing potential and male participants who are sexually active must
             practice adequate contraception during treatment and for 6 weeks following treatment

          -  Not pregnant or nursing

          -  Patients must be deemed able to comply with the treatment plan and follow-up schedule

          -  Patients must provide study specific informed consent prior to study entry, including
             consent for mandatory tissue submission for central review

          -  No prior invasive malignancy (except non-melanomatous skin cancer) unless disease free
             for a minimum of 3 years (for example, carcinoma in situ of the breast, oral cavity,
             or cervix are all permissible)

          -  No severe, active co-morbidity, defined as follows:

               -  Unstable angina and/or congestive heart failure requiring hospitalization within
                  the last 6 months

               -  Transmural myocardial infarction within the last 6 months

               -  Acute bacterial or fungal infection requiring intravenous antibiotics at the time
                  of registration

               -  Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease exacerbation or other respiratory illness
                  requiring hospitalization or precluding study therapy at the time of registration

               -  Hepatic insufficiency resulting in clinical jaundice and/or coagulation defects
                  (coagulation parameters are not required for entry into this protocol)

               -  Acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) based upon current Centers for Disease
                  Control (CDC) definition (HIV testing is not required for entry into this
                  protocol)

                    -  Protocol-specific requirements may also exclude immunocompromised patients

               -  Pre-existing ≥ grade 2 neuropathy

          -  No significant pre-existing hearing loss, as defined by the patient or treating
             physician

        PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

          -  See Disease Characteristics

          -  No prior systemic chemotherapy or radiation therapy for salivary gland malignancy
             (prior chemotherapy for a different cancer is allowable)

          -  No prior radiotherapy to the region of the study cancer that would result in overlap
             of radiation therapy fields

          -  No prior organ transplant

          -  No concurrent hematopoietic growth factors (e.g., G-CSF or pegfilgrastim) during
             radiotherapy

          -  No concurrent erythropoiesis-stimulating agents