This trial tests a combination of two drugs, imatinib and cetuximab, in patients with head and neck cancer who are about to undergo surgery or radiation. Researchers want to see if a specific protein in the tumor cells affects how well the treatment works. Participants will be involved in the study for over a year. Imatinib has been used for several years in the treatment of chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) and gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GIST).