SCH 66336 With or Without Gemcitabine Followed by Surgery Compared With Surgery Alone in Treating Patients With Primary Liver Cancer

Inclusion Criteria: Histologically or cytologically confirmed resectable primary hepatocellular carcinoma or cholangiocarcinoma 18 and over Karnofsky 70-100% Hematopoietic: Absolute neutrophil count greater than 1,500/mm3 Platelet count at least 100,000/mm3 Hemoglobin at least 9 g/dL Hepatic: Bilirubin no greater than 2 times upper limit of normal (ULN) SGOT or SGPT no greater than 5 times ULN Albumin at least 2.5 g/dL INR less than 1.3 Renal: Creatinine no greater than 1.5 mg/dL Cardiovascular: QTc prolongation no greater than 440 msec Other: Negative pregnancy test Fertile patients must use effective barrier contraception At least 6 weeks since prior radiotherapy and recovered At least 6 weeks since prior surgery and recovered At least 6 weeks since prior systemic therapy and recovered Exclusion Criteria: metastatic disease outside of the liver pregnant or nursing malabsorption or other gastrointestinal (GI) condition that would preclude ability to take oral medication and/or GI absorption (e.g., partial small bowel obstruction) non-malignant systemic disease that would preclude study active uncontrolled infection No grade II nausea or grade I vomiting despite antiemetic medication concurrent immunotherapy Chemotherapy: No other concurrent chemotherapy concurrent hormonal therapy including estrogen therapy concurrent oral contraceptives or other hormonal methods Concurrent megestrol acetate allowed concurrent corticosteroids (except for nausea/vomiting during gemcitabine administration) concurrent CYP3A4 inhibitors or inducers including: Azoles (e.g., itraconazole, clotrimazole, fluconazole, or ketoconazole) Macrolide antibiotics (e.g., azithromycin, clarithromycin, or erythromycin) Cyclosporine Grapefruit Antiepileptic medication (e.g., phenytoin, carbamazepine, or phenobarbital) Antibiotics for tuberculosis (e.g., rifampin or isoniazid) concurrent HIV protease inhibitors (e.g., amprenavir, ritonavir, or saquinavir mesylate) concurrent cisapride other concurrent investigational therapy