Sorafenib Tosylate and Chemoembolization With Doxorubicin Hydrochloride and Mitomycin in Treating Patients With Liver Cancer That Cannot Be Removed By Surgery

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

* Diagnosis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), as defined by 1 of the following:

  * Tissue histology

    * Recurrence of previously resected HCC does not require tissue confirmation if there is clear radiographic recurrence, in the judgment of the investigator
  * AFP \> 400 ng/mL with compatible mass on MRI
* Locally advanced disease
* Not eligible for surgical resection or immediate liver transplantation OR have refused such procedures
* All disease must be amenable to embolization in one or two procedures
* Measurable disease, according to modified HCC RECIST criteria

  * Must have radiographically documented measurable disease with at least one site of disease that is unidimensionally measurable as ≥ 10 mm on MRI
  * Lesions previously treated by radiofrequency ablation should not represent the only site of measurable disease
* Childs-Pugh score ≤ 7
* No complete thrombosis of the main portal vein

  * If unilateral portal vein thrombosis is present, must demonstrate radiographic evidence of adequate flow to the lobe to be embolized
* No evidence of extrahepatic/metastatic disease, such as lymph node metastases, lung or bone metastases, or peritoneal carcinomatosis

  * Evidence of cirrhosis is acceptable as long as the lab parameters are met
* No known brain metastases

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

* ECOG performance status 0-1
* Life expectancy ≥ 12 weeks
* Hemoglobin ≥ 9.0 g/dL
* ANC ≥ 1,500/mm³
* Platelet count ≥ 75,000/mm³
* Creatinine ≤ 1.5 times upper limit of normal (ULN) OR creatinine clearance ≥ 50 mL/min
* Total bilirubin ≤ 3 mg/dL
* ALT and AST ≤ 5 times ULN
* INR \< 1.5
* Negative pregnancy test
* Fertile patients must use effective contraception during and for ≥ 3 months after completion of study treatment
* No other cancer within the past 3 years except for cervical carcinoma in situ, previously treated basal cell carcinoma, or superficial bladder tumors (Ta, Tis, or T1)
* No NYHA class III or IV congestive heart failure
* No unstable angina (anginal symptoms at rest) or new-onset angina within the past 3 months
* No myocardial infarction within the past 6 months
* No cardiac ventricular arrhythmias requiring anti-arrhythmic therapy
* No uncontrolled hypertension (i.e., systolic BP \> 150 mm Hg or diastolic BP \> 90 mm Hg, despite optimal medical management)
* No venous thrombotic or arterial embolic events (e.g., cerebrovascular accident, including transient ischemic attacks or venous thromboembolism) within the past 6 months
* No pulmonary hemorrhage/bleeding event \> CTCAE grade 2 within the past 12 weeks
* No other hemorrhage/bleeding event \> CTCAE grade 3 within the past 12 weeks
* No variceal bleeding within past 12 weeks
* No known grade 2 or 3 esophageal varices (endoscopic evaluation is not required for study entry)
* No evidence or history of bleeding diathesis or coagulopathy
* No significant traumatic injury within the past 12 weeks
* No serious non-healing wound, ulcer, or bone fracture
* No significant proteinuria (i.e., proteinuria \> 1+ on urine dipstick)
* No HIV positivity (by patient report)
* No active hepatitis B or C, unless patient has been on stable medications for ≥ 2 months
* No active clinically serious infections (\> grade 2)
* No active gastrointestinal malabsorption problem
* No condition that would impair the patient's ability to swallow whole pills
* No active drug or alcohol abuse
* No known severe hypersensitivity or suspected allergy to sorafenib tosylate, any of its excipients, or other drugs used in this study
* No psychological, familial, sociological, or geographical condition potentially hampering compliance with the study protocol and follow-up schedule

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

* No prior systemic therapy, embolic therapy, or radiotherapy for HCC (e.g., chemotherapy, transarterial chemoembolization, transarterial embolization, or 90Y microspheres)
* At least 4 weeks since prior liver resection or ablative therapy and recovered
* No prior Raf/MEK/ERK-targeted therapy or VEGF-targeted therapy
* More than 4 weeks since prior participation in any investigational drug study
* More than 12 weeks since prior major surgery or open biopsy

  * Prior core liver biopsy allowed
* No concurrent antiretroviral therapy for HIV
* No concurrent chronic anticoagulation (other than 1 mg of warfarin daily for port patency)
* No concurrent St. John wort or rifampin
* No other concurrent anticancer therapy, radiotherapy, or investigational therapy