Hepatic Arterial Infusion of Melphalan With Hepatic Perfusion in Treating Patients With Unresectable Liver Cancer

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: Histologically or cytologically confirmed hepatic malignancy Unresectable disease Disease predominantly in the parenchyma of the liver One of the following primary tumor histologies: Adenocarcinoma of gastrointestinal or other origin Neuroendocrine tumor (except gastrinoma) Primary hepatic malignancy (e.g., hepatocellular cancer or intra-hepatic cholangiocarcinoma) Cutaneous or ocular melanoma (patients must have received prior regional melphalan therapy) Hepatic metastases from colorectal tumors allowed provided patient has undergone prior first-line chemotherapy, including irinotecan or oxaliplatin Limited unresectable extrahepatic disease on preoperative radiological studies allowed if life-limiting component of progressive disease is in the liver Limited extrahepatic disease includes, but is not limited to, the following: Up to 4 pulmonary nodules each < 1 cm in diameter Retroperitoneal lymph nodes each < 3 cm in diameter Less than 10 skin or subcutaneous metastases each < 1 cm in diameter Asymptomatic bone metastases that have been or could be palliatively treated with external beam radiotherapy Resectable solitary metastasis to any site Hormone receptor status: Not specified PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: Age 16 and over Sex Male or Female Menopausal status Not specified Performance status ECOG 0-2 Life expectancy Not specified Hematopoietic Platelet count ≥ 75,000/mm^3 Hematocrit > 27% Absolute neutrophil count ≥ 1,300/mm^3 Hepatic Bilirubin ≤ 2.0 mg/dL PT ≤ 2 seconds of upper limit of normal (ULN) AST and ALT ≤ 10 times ULN No Childs class B or C cirrhosis No portal hypertension by history, endoscopy, or radiologic studies Renal Creatinine ≤ 1.5 mg/dL OR Creatinine clearance > 60 mL/min Cardiovascular No congestive heart failure LVEF ≥ 40% Pulmonary No chronic obstructive pulmonary disease FEV_1 ≥ 30% of predicted DLCO ≥ 40% of predicted Immunologic No active infection No severe allergic reaction to iodine contrast agent that is not controlled by premedication with antihistamines or steroids No known hypersensitivity reaction to melphalan or heparin in the presence of a heparin induced thrombocytopenia (HIT) antibody Other Weight > 35 kg Not pregnant or nursing Negative pregnancy test Fertile patients must use effective contraception No documented latex allergy No evidence of intracranial abnormalities which would lead to risk for bleeding with anticoagulation (e.g., stroke or active metastasis) No evidence of active ulcer disease PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY: Biologic therapy More than 1 month since prior biologic therapy and recovered Chemotherapy See Disease Characteristics More than 1 month since prior chemotherapy and recovered Endocrine therapy Premenopausal women (i.e., have had a period within the past 12 months) must be willing to undergo hormonal suppression during study treatment Radiotherapy See Disease Characteristics More than 1 month since prior radiotherapy and recovered Surgery No prior Whipple resection Other Prior intrahepatic perfusion (with or without arterial infusion with floxuridine) or peripheral hepatic perfusion allowed provided the patient had a radiographic partial response of 3 months' duration after therapy No concurrent immunosuppressive drugs No concurrent chronic anticoagulation therapy