Cetuximab, Carboplatin, and Paclitaxel Followed by Radiation Therapy, With or Without Cisplatin, in Treating Patients With Metastatic Head and Neck Cancer

RATIONALE: Monoclonal antibodies, such as cetuximab, can block tumor growth in different ways. Some find tumor cells and kill them or carry tumor-killing substances to them. Others interfere with the ability of tumor cells to grow and spread. Drugs used in chemotherapy, such as carboplatin, paclitaxel, and cisplatin, work in different ways to stop the growth of tumor cells, either by killing the cells or by stopping them from dividing. Giving more than one drug (combination chemotherapy) may kill more tumor cells. Radiation therapy uses high-energy x-rays and other types of radiation to kill tumor cells. Giving cetuximab together with combination chemotherapy and radiation therapy, with or without cisplatin, may kill more tumor cells. PURPOSE: This phase II trial is studying how well giving cetuximab together with carboplatin and paclitaxel followed by radiation therapy, with or without cisplatin, works in treating patients with metastatic head and neck cancer.