DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

• Histologically proven hepatocellular carcinoma
• Ineligible for potentially curative surgical resection

• Must be a candidate for palliative chemoembolization

  • MRI must show one or more discrete tumor nodules that can be targeted by angiography for chemoembolization

    • No diffusely infiltrating tumor
  • Lesions under consideration for chemoembolization must demonstrate substantial hypervascularity

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

Age:

• 18 and over

Performance status:

• ECOG 0-2

Life expectancy:

• Not specified

Hematopoietic:

• Absolute neutrophil count at least 1,200/mm^3
• Hemoglobin at least 8.0 g/dL
• Platelet count at least 50,000/mm^3

Hepatic:

• SGOT and SGPT no greater than 5 times normal
• Bilirubin less than 3 mg/dL

Renal:

• Creatinine no greater than 1.5 mg/dL

Other:

• No other medical condition that would preclude study participation
• No other malignancy within the past 5 years except curatively resected basal cell skin cancer or carcinoma in situ of the cervix
• Not pregnant or nursing
• Negative pregnancy test

• Regardless of fertility status:

  • All female patients (unless they have undergone a hysterectomy or have been amenorrheic or postmenopausal for at least 2 years) must use at least 1 highly active method of contraception AND 1 additional effective method of contraception at least 4 weeks before, during, and for at least 4 weeks after study participation
  • All male patients (even if they have undergone a successful vasectomy) must use effective barrier contraception during and for at least 4 weeks after study participation

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

Biologic therapy:

• Prior interferon for hepatitis allowed
• No prior biologic therapy for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC)

Chemotherapy:

• No prior chemotherapy for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC)

Endocrine therapy:

• Not specified

Radiotherapy:

• Not specified

Surgery:

• See Disease Characteristics

Other:

• No concurrent barbiturates or alcohol