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