Epirubicin and Thalidomide in Treating Patients With Liver Cancer

You may be eligible if

• DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:
• Diagnosis of hepatocellular carcinoma
• * Locally unresectable or metastatic disease
• Measurable disease
• No clinically apparent CNS metastases
• No carcinomatous meningitis
• PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:
• Age
• Over 18
• Performance status
• ECOG 0-2
• Life expectancy
• At least 12 weeks
• Hematopoietic
• Absolute neutrophil count at least 1,500/mm\^3
• Platelet count at least 75,000/mm\^3
• Hepatic
• SGOT no greater than 5 times upper limit of normal
• Bilirubin no greater than 3.0 mg/dL
• INR no greater than 1.5\*
• Albumin at least 2.0 g/dL NOTE: \*Not required for patients receiving full anticoagulation with warfarin for deep vein thrombosis or pulmonary embolism
• Renal
• Creatinine no greater than 2.0 mg/dL
• Cardiovascular
• No myocardial infarction within the past 6 months
• LVEF normal by echocardiogram or MUGA
• Other
• Not pregnant or nursing
• Fertile patients must use effective contraception
• Willing and able to participate in the System for Thalidomide Education and Prescribing Safety (STEPS) program
• No uncontrolled serious medical or psychiatric illness
• No other concurrent uncontrolled malignancy
• PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:
• Biologic therapy
• Not specified
• Chemotherapy
• No more than 1 prior chemotherapy regimen for hepatocellular carcinoma
• No prior chemoembolization to the liver
• Endocrine therapy
• Not specified
• Radiotherapy
• Not specified
• Surgery
• More than 2 weeks since prior major surgery