Irinotecan and Flavopiridol in Treating Patients With Advanced Liver Cancer

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

* Histologically or cytologically confirmed hepatocellular carcinoma

  * Advanced disease
* Measurable disease

  * At least 1 unidimensionally measurable lesion ≥ 20 mm by conventional techniques OR ≥ 10 mm by spiral CT scan
* Prior local therapy (e.g., surgery, hepatic arterial embolization, radiofrequency ablation, or cryoablation) allowed provided therapy was completed ≥ 8 weeks before study entry AND ≥ 1 of the following conditions are met:

  * Target lesion was not subjected to local therapy
  * 25% increase in the size of target lesion within the field of prior local therapy

    * Lesions treated with external beam radiotherapy are not acceptable as target lesions
* Child-Pugh class A or B status if liver cirrhosis is present

  * Score 7 or 8 only
* No known brain metastases

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

Age

* 18 and over

Performance status

* Karnofsky 70-100%

Life expectancy

* Not specified

Hematopoietic

* Absolute neutrophil count ≥ 1,500/mm\^3
* Platelet count ≥ 75,000/mm\^3
* WBC ≥ 3,000/mm\^3

Hepatic

* See Disease Characteristics
* AST and ALT ≤ 2.5 times upper limit of normal
* Bilirubin ≤ 1.5 mg/dL

Renal

* Creatinine normal OR
* Creatinine clearance ≥ 60 mL/min

Cardiovascular

* No symptomatic congestive heart failure
* No unstable angina pectoris
* No deep vein thrombosis within the past 6 months

  * Patients maintained on anticoagulation therapy for an event that occurred more than 6 months ago are eligible
* No myocardial infarction within the past 6 months
* No cardiac arrhythmia within the past 6 months

  * Rate-controlled atrial fibrillation allowed if stable for at least 6 months

Pulmonary

* No pulmonary embolus within the past 6 months

  * Patients maintained on anticoagulation therapy for an event that occurred more than 6 months ago are eligible

Other

* Not pregnant or nursing
* Negative pregnancy test
* Fertile patients must use effective contraception during and for 3 months after study participation
* No prior allergic reaction attributed to compounds of similar chemical or biological composition to flavopiridol or irinotecan
* No clinically significant gastrointestinal bleeding requiring hospitalization within the past month
* No active or ongoing infection
* No psychiatric illness or social situation that would preclude study compliance
* No other uncontrolled illness
* No other malignancy within the past 3 years except carcinoma in situ of the cervix, adequately treated basal cell skin cancer, or superficial bladder tumors \[Ta, Tis, or T1\]

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

Biologic therapy

* No prior systemic biologic therapy

Chemotherapy

* No prior systemic chemotherapy for hepatocellular carcinoma
* No other concurrent chemotherapy

Endocrine therapy

* Not specified

Radiotherapy

* See Disease Characteristics

Surgery

* See Disease Characteristics
* No prior organ allograft

Other

* No concurrent combination antiretroviral therapy for HIV-positive patients
* No concurrent vitamins, antioxidants, or herbal preparations and supplements

  * Single-tablet multivitamin allowed
* No other concurrent investigational agents
* No other concurrent anticancer agents or therapies