Rebeccamycin Analogue in Treating Patients With Advanced Liver and/or Biliary Cancer

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: * Diagnosis of advanced hepatobiliary carcinoma not amenable to conventional surgery * Gall bladder carcinoma * Cholangiocarcinoma * Carcinoma of the ampulla * Hepatocellular carcinoma (eligible for cohort II only) * Measurable disease * No known brain metastases PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: Age: * 18 and over Performance status: * ECOG 0-2 Life expectancy: * At least 12 weeks Hematopoietic: * WBC at least 3,000/mm\^3 * Granulocyte count at least 1,500/mm\^3 * Platelet count at least 100,000/mm\^3 * Hemoglobin greater than 10 g/dL Hepatic: * Bilirubin less than 3 mg/dL * Cohort I (closed to accrual as of 11/1/03) * Bilirubin no greater than 1.5 mg/dL * AST no greater than 2.5 times upper limit of normal (ULN) * Cohort II * Bilirubin greater than 1.5 mg/dL and less than 3 mg/dL OR * Bilirubin no greater 1.5 mg/dL AND AST greater than 2.5 times ULN Renal: * Creatinine normal OR * Creatinine clearance at least 60 mL/min Cardiovascular: * No New York Heart Association class III or IV heart disease Other: * Not pregnant or nursing * Negative pregnancy test * Fertile patients must use effective contraception PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY: Biologic therapy: * Not specified Chemotherapy: * No prior chemotherapy for cholangiocarcinoma or hepatobiliary carcinoma Endocrine therapy: * Not specified Radiotherapy: * Not specified Surgery: * Not specified Other: * No concurrent combination antiviral therapy for HIV-positive patients