Nolatrexed Dihydrochloride Compared With Doxorubicin in Treating Patients With Recurrent or Unresectable Liver Cancer

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: Histologically or cytologically proven or presumptive diagnosis of hepatocellular carcinoma Presumptive diagnosis based on rising alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) levels over 2 assessments, CT scan or MRI of liver, spiral CT scan of portal/splenic vein, and biopsy evidence of cirrhosis Unresectable or recurrent disease after prior surgical resection or embolization therapy Fibrolamellar histology allowed if considered surgically unresectable based on tumor size, extrahepatic involvement, or multiple lobe involvement CLIP (Cancer of the Liver Italian Program) score less than 4 Concurrent assignment to a transplantation list allowed PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: Age: 18 and over Performance status: Karnofsky 60-100% Life expectancy: Not specified Hematopoietic: Absolute neutrophil count at least 1,200/mm^3 Platelet count at least 80,000/mm^3 Hepatic: Bilirubin no greater than 3.0 mg/dL (except for known Gilbert's Syndrome) AST no greater than 5 times upper limit of normal (ULN) PT no greater than 1.5 times ULN Renal: Creatinine no greater than 2.0 mg/dL Cardiovascular: No uncontrolled hypertension within the past 3 months No unstable angina, symptomatic congestive heart failure, or myocardial infarction within the past 3 months No uncontrolled cardiac arrhythmia Other: Not pregnant or nursing Negative pregnancy test Fertile patients must use effective contraception No active bacterial infections HIV negative No AIDS No other primary malignancy except carcinoma in situ of the cervix or urinary bladder or non-melanoma skin cancer No mental incapacitation or psychiatric illness that would preclude study participation No other severe disease that would preclude study participation Candidate for placement of a central venous access device PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY: Biologic therapy: Prior biologic therapy allowed No concurrent biologic therapy Chemotherapy: No prior IV doxorubicin except intraarterial administration in locoregional therapy Endocrine therapy: Prior endocrine therapy allowed No concurrent endocrine therapy Radiotherapy: Prior radiotherapy allowed No concurrent radiotherapy Surgery: See Disease Characteristics Surgery allowed if previously unresectable lesions become resectable Recovered from any prior surgery No concurrent liver transplantation Other: No other concurrent investigational or marketed anticancer drugs No other concurrent therapy for hepatocellular carcinoma No concurrent terfenadine, astemizole, or cisapride that may not be interrupted during nolatrexed dihydrochloride administration