DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

• One of the following conditions:

  • Histologically confirmed unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma
  • Serum alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) level greater than 500 ng/mL with cirrhosis
  • Serum AFP level greater than 500 ng/mL with a liver mass and positive hepatitis B or C serology
• Receiving ablation therapy with embolization
• Extrahepatic disease allowed
• No brain metastases

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

Age:

• 18 and over

Performance status:

• ECOG 0-2

Life expectancy:

• Not specified

Hematopoietic:

• Absolute neutrophil count greater than 1,500/mm^3
• Platelet count greater than 50,000/mm^3
• Hemoglobin greater than 8.0 g/dL

Hepatic:

• See Disease Characteristics
• Bilirubin less than 2.0 mg/dL
• SGOT or SGPT less than 5 times upper limit of normal (ULN)
• PT or INR less than 1.6 times ULN (if not receiving warfarin for anticoagulation)
• Albumin greater than 2.5 g/dL

Renal:

• Creatinine less than 1.8 mg/dL

Pulmonary:

• DLCO at least 50% predicted OR
• DLCO at least 70% predicted if total lung capacity less than 80% predicted
• No significant lung disease

Other:

• Not pregnant or nursing
• Negative pregnancy test
• Fertile patients must use effective contraception
• No other malignancy within the past 5 years except nonmelanoma skin cancer or carcinoma in situ of the cervix
• No uncontrolled infection or pain
• No other condition that would significantly impair cognitive functioning during the study
• No overt psychosis, mental disability, or other incompetency that would preclude study
• No other life-threatening illness for which the prognosis is poorer than for hepatocellular carcinoma

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

Biologic therapy:

• No concurrent interferon

Chemotherapy:

• No prior chemotherapy within 4 weeks of initiating ablation therapy
• No concurrent chemotherapy

Endocrine therapy:

• Not specified

Radiotherapy:

• No prior radiotherapy within 4 weeks of initiating ablation therapy
• Concurrent radiotherapy allowed

Surgery:

• See Disease Characteristics

Other:

• See Disease Characteristics
• No prior ablation therapy
• No other concurrent Sho-saiko-to or any of its constituent plants
• No other concurrent anticancer medications