Oblimersen and Doxorubicin in Treating Patients With Advanced Hepatocellular Carcinoma (Liver Cancer)

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: * Diagnosis of 1 of the following: * Histologically or cytologically confirmed hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) * Locally advanced, recurrent, or metastatic * Not candidates for surgical/radical therapies * Other solid tumor that is incurable (closed to accrual as of 11/7/03) * At least 1 unidimensionally measurable lesion * At least 20 mm by conventional techniques OR at least 10 mm by spiral CT scan * Target lesion may not be in a previously irradiated field unless subsequent progression was documented * No ascites * No known brain metastases PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: Age * 18 and over Performance status * ECOG 0-2 OR * Karnofsky 60-100% Life expectancy * More than 3 months Hematopoietic * WBC at least 2,000/mm\^3 * Absolute neutrophil count at least 1,500/mm\^3 * Platelet count at least 100,000/mm\^3 Hepatic * Bilirubin no greater than 2.0 mg/dL * AST no greater than 5 times upper limit of normal (ULN) * Albumin greater than 3.5 g/dL * No cirrhosis worse than Childs-Pugh class A Renal * Creatinine no greater than 1.25 times ULN OR * Creatinine clearance at least 50 mL/min Cardiovascular * LVEF normal by MUGA * No symptomatic congestive heart failure * No unstable angina pectoris * No cardiac arrhythmia Other * Good nutritional status * No encephalopathy * No other concurrent uncontrolled illness * No ongoing or active infection * No psychiatric illness or social situation that would preclude study participation * No prior allergic reactions to compounds of similar chemical or biological composition to oblimersen or doxorubicin * Not pregnant or nursing * Negative pregnancy test * Fertile patients must use effective contraception PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY: Biologic therapy * No more than 1 prior biologic therapy regimen for patients with HCC * At least 4 weeks since prior biologic therapy Chemotherapy * Patients with HCC: * No prior systemic chemotherapy * Prior chemotherapy as part of localized chemoembolization therapy may be allowed (no more than 150 mg/m\^2 for doxorubicin) if completed at least 8 weeks before study treatment * All other patients (closed to accrual as of 11/7/03): * At least 4 weeks since prior chemotherapy (6 weeks for nitrosoureas or mitomycin) * No prior doxorubicin, epirubicin, or other anthracycline Endocrine therapy * Not specified Radiotherapy * See Disease Characteristics * At least 4 weeks since prior radiotherapy * No more than 3,000 cGy to fields including substantial bone marrow Surgery * At least 8 weeks since prior surgery * Prior liver transplant for HCC allowed Other * Recovered from all prior therapy * At least 8 weeks since other locally ablative therapies * No concurrent commercial or other investigational agents or therapies * No other concurrent anticancer therapy * No concurrent combination antiretroviral therapy for HIV-positive patients