RATIONALE: Radiation therapy uses high-energy x-rays to damage tumor cells, but may cause skin irritation and inflammation. Biafine cream may be effective in lessening side effects caused by radiation therapy.

PURPOSE: Randomized phase III trial to determine the effectiveness of Biafine cream in reducing side effects of radiation therapy in patients receiving treatment for head and neck cancer.

OBJECTIVES: I. Compare the efficacy of prophylactic Biafine cream vs standard best supportive care in reducing grade 2 or higher radiation-induced skin toxicity observed during radiotherapy in patients with advanced squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck. II. Determine if prophylactic or interventional use of Biafine cream is more effective based on a reduction in maximum skin toxicity resulting from radiation treatment in this patient population. III. Compare quality of life of these patients with this treatment. IV. Assess the toxicity of Biafine cream in these patients.

OUTLINE: This is a randomized study. Patients are stratified according to lymph node status (negative vs positive), type of treatment (radiation plus chemotherapy vs radiation alone), radiation fractionation (standard vs concurrent boost), and radiation dose (50-60 Gy vs greater than 60 Gy). Patients are randomized to 1 of 3 treatment arms. Arm I: Patients receive radiotherapy once daily 5 days a week for 5-8 weeks, with or without standard skin cream application (no Biafine cream) to irradiated skin. Arm II: Patients receive radiotherapy as in arm I, with Biafine cream applied to skin 3 times daily 7 days a week at the initiation of radiotherapy and continuing for 2 weeks after the last radiation treatment. Biafine cream is applied no fewer than 4 hours before treatment and no fewer than 4 hours between applications. Arm III: Patients receive radiotherapy as in arms I and II, with Biafine cream applied as in arm II only after skin becomes symptomatic (i.e., redness, dryness, itching, or tenderness). Quality of life is assessed before treatment, weekly during treatment, and then weekly for 4 weeks after treatment completion. Patients are followed weekly for 4 weeks.

PROJECTED ACCRUAL: Approximately 500 patients will be accrued for this study within 17 months.

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: Histologically confirmed stage III or IV squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck, including: Oral cavity Oropharyngeal Hypopharyngeal Laryngeal Radiotherapy indicated as primary treatment or treatment after primary surgical resection Primary field to receive at least 50 Gy No skin rash, ulceration, or open wound in treatment field No tumor involvement of the skin

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: Age: Not specified Performance status: Zubrod 0-1 Life expectancy: Not specified Hematopoietic: Not specified Hepatic: Not specified Renal: Not specified Other: No known skin allergy or sensitivity to Biafine No inflammatory or connective tissue disorders of the skin No history of mental incompetence, including psychological disorders or drug dependency disorders, that would preclude study compliance

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY: Biologic therapy: Not specified Chemotherapy: Concurrent chemotherapy allowed Endocrine therapy: Not specified Radiotherapy: See Disease Characteristics No prior radiotherapy to treatment field Surgery: See Disease Characteristics Prior surgery allowed Other: No other concurrent investigational therapy No concurrent participation on other RTOG clinical trials No concurrent amifostine (concurrent pilocarpine allowed)