SB-715992 in Treating Patients With Locally Advanced, Recurrent, or Metastatic Liver Cancer

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: * Histologically or cytologically confirmed hepatocellular carcinoma * Locally advanced, recurrent, or metastatic disease * Histologically confirmed disease must have archival paraffin-fixed tumor specimen available * Measurable disease * At least 1 unidimensionally measurable site of disease ≥ 20 mm by x-ray, physical exam, or non-spiral CT scan OR ≥ 10 mm by spiral CT scan * Outside of previously irradiated area * Patients whose sole site of disease is in a previously irradiated field are eligible provided there is evidence of disease progression OR new lesions documented in the irradiated field * Bone metastases are not considered measurable disease * Not curable by standard therapies * No cholangiocarcinoma PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: Age * 18 and over Performance status * ECOG 0-2 Life expectancy * At least 12 weeks Hematopoietic * Absolute granulocyte count ≥ 1,500/mm\^3 * Platelet count ≥ 80,000/mm\^3 Hepatic * Bilirubin ≤ 2 times upper limit of normal (ULN) * AST ≤ 5 times ULN * Must have hepatic reserve of Child-Turcotte-Pugh class A or better Renal * Creatinine clearance ≥ 60 mL/min Cardiovascular * No myocardial infarction within the past 6 months * No symptomatic congestive heart failure * No unstable angina pectoris * No cardiac arrhythmia * No active cardiomyopathy * No uncontrolled hypertension Other * Not pregnant or nursing * Negative pregnancy test * Fertile patients must use effective contraception * No clinical evidence of encephalopathy * No ongoing or active infection * No history of allergic reaction attributed to compounds of similar chemical or biological composition to SB-715992 * No psychiatric illness or social situation that would preclude study compliance * No other uncontrolled illness * No other malignancies within the past 5 years except adequately treated nonmelanoma skin cancer, curatively treated carcinoma in situ of the cervix, or other curatively treated solid tumors with no evidence of disease for at least 5 years PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY: Biologic therapy * Not specified Chemotherapy * At least 4 weeks since prior intra-hepatic chemotherapy as a component of trans-arterial chemoembolization and recovered * Documented disease progression * No prior systemic chemotherapy Endocrine therapy * Not specified Radiotherapy * See Disease Characteristics * At least 4 weeks since prior radiotherapy * Exceptions may be made for low-dose, nonmyelosuppressive radiotherapy Surgery * At least 4 weeks since prior major surgery * Prior liver transplantation allowed Other * No other prior systemic therapy * At least 4 weeks since prior local ablative therapy (e.g., radiofrequency ablation or ethanol injection) and recovered * Documented disease progression * More than 28 days since prior investigational agents * More than 14 days since prior and no concurrent use of any of the following CYP3A4 inhibitors or inducers: * Clarithromycin * Erythromycin * Troleandomycin * Itraconazole * Ketoconazole * Fluconazole (dose \> 200 mg/day) * Voriconazole * Nefazodone * Fluvoxamine * Verapamil * Diltiazem * Grapefruit juice * Bitter orange * Phenytoin * Carbamazepine * Phenobarbital * Oxcarbazepine * Rifampin * Rifabutin * Rifapentine * Hypericum perforatum (St. John's wort) * Modafinil * At least 6 months since prior and no concurrent amiodarone * No concurrent combination antiretroviral therapy for HIV-positive patients * No other concurrent anticancer therapy * No other concurrent investigational agents