Gemcitabine Plus Docetaxel in Treating Patients With Unresectable or Metastatic Liver Cancer

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: Histologically confirmed unresectable or metastatic hepatocellular carcinoma not amenable to combined radiotherapy and chemotherapy or orthotopic liver transplantation Measurable disease, defined as at least 1 lesion that can be accurately measured in at least 1 dimension as at least 20 mm Evidence of disease progression by serial imaging or biochemical evidence of a rising alpha-fetoprotein by serial testing No history of brain or other CNS metastases not amenable to local therapy Locally treatable CNS lesions (i.e., lesions treatable with surgery or radiosurgery) allowed if no evidence of CNS progression for at least 4 weeks after completion of therapy PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: Age 18 and over Performance status ECOG 0-2 Life expectancy Not specified Hematopoietic Absolute neutrophil count at least 1,500/mm^3 Platelet count at least 100,000/mm^3 Hemoglobin at least 10.0 g/dL Hepatic Bilirubin no greater than 1.5 times upper limit of normal (ULN) AST no greater than 2.5 times ULN Renal Creatinine no greater than 1.5 times ULN Other No other malignancy within the past 5 years except basal cell or squamous cell skin cancer or carcinoma in situ of the cervix Not pregnant or nursing Negative pregnancy test Fertile patients must use effective contraception No prior hypersensitivity reaction to taxanes or other drugs formulated with polysorbate 80 No grade 2 or greater peripheral neuropathy PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY: Biologic therapy At least 4 weeks since prior biologic therapy or immunotherapy No concurrent immunotherapy Chemotherapy See Disease Characteristics Prior chemotherapy (excluding gemcitabine) for radiosensitization allowed At least 4 weeks since prior chemotherapy At least 6 months since prior chemoembolization No prior chemotherapy for metastatic disease No other concurrent chemotherapy Endocrine therapy At least 4 weeks since prior hormonal therapy Radiotherapy See Disease Characteristics At least 4 weeks since prior radiotherapy No prior radiotherapy to 25% or more of bone marrow No concurrent radiotherapy Surgery See Disease Characteristics