Sorafenib Tosylate With or Without Everolimus in Treating Patients With Localized, Unresectable, or Metastatic Liver Cancer

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

* Histologically, cytologically, or radiologically confirmed hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC)

  * Localized, unresectable, or metastatic disease
  * Child-Pugh class A or mildly decompensated Child-Pugh class B liver dysfunction (Child-Pugh score ≤ 7)
  * Stage B or C disease according to the Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer (BCLC) staging classification
* Measurable disease

  * At least 1 unidimensionally measurable site of disease (≥ 10 mm in case of a non-nodal lesion or with a short axis ≥ 15 mm in case of a lymph node) by spiral/multi-slice CT/MRI scan according to revised RECIST criteria
* No locally advanced disease AND a candidate for radical surgery
* No known fibrolamellar HCC or mixed cholangiocarcinoma/HCC
* No clinical symptoms or history of CNS metastases or leptomeningeal disease (no imaging required)

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

* WHO performance status 0-1
* Hemoglobin ≥ 90 g/L
* Neutrophil count ≥ 1.5 x 10\^9/L
* Platelet count ≥ 75 x 10\^9/L
* Creatinine clearance ≥ 40 mL/min
* ALT ≤ 5 times upper limit of normal
* INR ≤ 2
* Urine dipstick for proteinuria ≤ 1+ OR protein spot urine \< 0.6 g/L
* Not pregnant or nursing
* Negative pregnancy test
* Fertile patients must use effective contraception during and for 12 months after completion of study therapy
* No prior malignancy within the past 5 years except adequately treated carcinoma in situ of the cervix or localized nonmelanoma skin cancer
* No history of hemorrhagic or thrombotic cerebrovascular event within the past 12 months
* No documented variceal hemorrhage within the past 3 months
* No requirement for anticoagulant therapy except for low-dose anticoagulants for maintenance of patency of central venous access or prevention of deep vein thrombosis
* No history or presence of clinically significant acute or unstable cardiovascular, cerebrovascular, renal, gastrointestinal, pulmonary, endocrine, central nervous system, or immunological disorders (except for the presence of hepatitis B or C virus or cirrhosis) within the past 6 months
* No encephalopathy
* No known HIV infection
* No active infection requiring IV antibiotics
* No arterial hypertension ≥ 150/100 mm Hg despite therapy
* No ongoing cardiac dysrhythmias of NCI CTCAE grade ≥ 2, atrial fibrillation of any grade, prolongation of QTc \> 500 msec on screening electrocardiogram (ECG), or history of familial long QT syndrome
* No repeated paracentesis (more than 1 per month)
* No psychiatric disorder precluding understanding of information of trial-related topics, giving informed consent, or interfering with compliance for oral drug intake
* No concurrent grapefruit, grapefruit juice, or products containing bitter oranges
* Able to take oral medications
* Completed baseline quality of life questionnaire
* Must be compliant and geographically proximal for follow-up

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

* See Disease Characteristics
* No prior systemic anticancer treatment for this disease

  * The following prior therapies are allowed provided previously treated lesions remain separate from those to be measured in the current trial and prior treatment is completed within the past 4 weeks

    * Surgery
    * Liver-directed therapy (e.g., transarterial embolization/chemoembolization \[limited to 5 treatments\], radiofrequency ablation, cryoablation, radiotherapy, or percutaneous ethanol injection)
* No prior organ transplantation
* No concurrent estrogen-containing supplementary therapy
* No concurrent full-dose anticoagulation with coumarin derivatives
* No concurrent elective major surgery
* No concurrent radiotherapy (concurrent analgesic radiotherapy of non-target lesions allowed)
* No concurrent or anticipated need for CYP3A4 inhibitors or inducers, unless the drugs are medically necessary and no substitutes are available, including any of the following:

  * Ketoconazole
  * Itraconazole
  * Voriconazole
  * Erythromycin
  * Clarithromycin
  * Diltiazem
  * Verapamil
  * Protease inhibitors
* No concurrent strong CYP3A4 inducers\*, including any of the following:

  * Carbamazepine
  * Continuous dexamethasone (\> 2 mg/day for \> 7 days)
  * Phenobarbital
  * Phenytoin
  * Rifampicin
  * St. John's wort NOTE: \*Concurrent antacids allowed provided they are administered \> 1 hour before or \> 1 hour after trial drug administration.
* No other concurrent experimental drugs or anticancer therapy or treatment in another clinical trial within the past 30 days
* No other concurrent investigational drugs
* No chronic systemic steroids or other immunosuppressive agents
* No concurrent angiotension converting enzyme inhibitors (ACE-I)