Gemcitabine Plus Docetaxel in Treating Patients With Unresectable or Metastatic Liver Cancer

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: * Histologically confirmed unresectable or metastatic hepatocellular carcinoma not amenable to combined radiotherapy and chemotherapy or orthotopic liver transplantation * Measurable disease, defined as at least 1 lesion that can be accurately measured in at least 1 dimension as at least 20 mm * Evidence of disease progression by serial imaging or biochemical evidence of a rising alpha-fetoprotein by serial testing * No history of brain or other CNS metastases not amenable to local therapy * Locally treatable CNS lesions (i.e., lesions treatable with surgery or radiosurgery) allowed if no evidence of CNS progression for at least 4 weeks after completion of therapy PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: Age * 18 and over Performance status * ECOG 0-2 Life expectancy * Not specified Hematopoietic * Absolute neutrophil count at least 1,500/mm\^3 * Platelet count at least 100,000/mm\^3 * Hemoglobin at least 10.0 g/dL Hepatic * Bilirubin no greater than 1.5 times upper limit of normal (ULN) * AST no greater than 2.5 times ULN Renal * Creatinine no greater than 1.5 times ULN Other * No other malignancy within the past 5 years except basal cell or squamous cell skin cancer or carcinoma in situ of the cervix * Not pregnant or nursing * Negative pregnancy test * Fertile patients must use effective contraception * No prior hypersensitivity reaction to taxanes or other drugs formulated with polysorbate 80 * No grade 2 or greater peripheral neuropathy PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY: Biologic therapy * At least 4 weeks since prior biologic therapy or immunotherapy * No concurrent immunotherapy Chemotherapy * See Disease Characteristics * Prior chemotherapy (excluding gemcitabine) for radiosensitization allowed * At least 4 weeks since prior chemotherapy * At least 6 months since prior chemoembolization * No prior chemotherapy for metastatic disease * No other concurrent chemotherapy Endocrine therapy * At least 4 weeks since prior hormonal therapy Radiotherapy * See Disease Characteristics * At least 4 weeks since prior radiotherapy * No prior radiotherapy to 25% or more of bone marrow * No concurrent radiotherapy Surgery * See Disease Characteristics