Nolatrexed Dihydrochloride Compared With Doxorubicin in Treating Patients With Recurrent or Unresectable Liver Cancer

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: * Histologically or cytologically proven or presumptive diagnosis of hepatocellular carcinoma * Presumptive diagnosis based on rising alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) levels over 2 assessments, CT scan or MRI of liver, spiral CT scan of portal/splenic vein, and biopsy evidence of cirrhosis * Unresectable or recurrent disease after prior surgical resection or embolization therapy * Fibrolamellar histology allowed if considered surgically unresectable based on tumor size, extrahepatic involvement, or multiple lobe involvement * CLIP (Cancer of the Liver Italian Program) score less than 4 * Concurrent assignment to a transplantation list allowed PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: Age: * 18 and over Performance status: * Karnofsky 60-100% Life expectancy: * Not specified Hematopoietic: * Absolute neutrophil count at least 1,200/mm\^3 * Platelet count at least 80,000/mm\^3 Hepatic: * Bilirubin no greater than 3.0 mg/dL (except for known Gilbert's Syndrome) * AST no greater than 5 times upper limit of normal (ULN) * PT no greater than 1.5 times ULN Renal: * Creatinine no greater than 2.0 mg/dL Cardiovascular: * No uncontrolled hypertension within the past 3 months * No unstable angina, symptomatic congestive heart failure, or myocardial infarction within the past 3 months * No uncontrolled cardiac arrhythmia Other: * Not pregnant or nursing * Negative pregnancy test * Fertile patients must use effective contraception * No active bacterial infections * HIV negative * No AIDS * No other primary malignancy except carcinoma in situ of the cervix or urinary bladder or non-melanoma skin cancer * No mental incapacitation or psychiatric illness that would preclude study participation * No other severe disease that would preclude study participation * Candidate for placement of a central venous access device PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY: Biologic therapy: * Prior biologic therapy allowed * No concurrent biologic therapy Chemotherapy: * No prior IV doxorubicin except intraarterial administration in locoregional therapy Endocrine therapy: * Prior endocrine therapy allowed * No concurrent endocrine therapy Radiotherapy: * Prior radiotherapy allowed * No concurrent radiotherapy Surgery: * See Disease Characteristics * Surgery allowed if previously unresectable lesions become resectable * Recovered from any prior surgery * No concurrent liver transplantation Other: * No other concurrent investigational or marketed anticancer drugs * No other concurrent therapy for hepatocellular carcinoma * No concurrent terfenadine, astemizole, or cisapride that may not be interrupted during nolatrexed dihydrochloride administration