Sorafenib Tosylate in Treating Patients With Liver Cancer That Can Be Removed by Surgery

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: * Histologically confirmed hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) * Fibrolamellar or mixed histology allowed * No cholangiocarcinoma or other tubal disease * Must be eligible for conservative hepatic resection or liver resection with curative intent * No cirrhosis with Child-Pugh score \> 7 * Chronic liver disease without liver insufficiency and without portal liver hypertension allowed * No known history or presence of metastatic brain or meningeal tumors PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: * ECOG performance status 0-1 * Life expectancy ≥ 3 months * WBC \> 3,000/µL * ANC \> 1,500/µL * Platelet count ≥ 100,000/µL * Hemoglobin ≥ 9 g/dL * Bilirubin \< 1.5 times upper normal limit (ULN) * AST and ALT ≤ 5 times UNL * Alkaline phosphatase ≤ 5 times ULN * Serum creatinine \< 2 times ULN * PT/INR/PTT \< 1.5 times UNL * Amylase and lipase \< 1.5 times ULN * Negative pregnancy test * Fertile patients must use effective contraception * Body mass index 18.5-30 kg/m\^2 (WHO normal range: 18.5-25 kg/m\^2) * Able to swallow oral compound * No criterion for unresectability or medical condition that contraindicates surgical resection * No serious concurrent systemic disorder incompatible with the study, including any of the following: * Uncontrolled hypertension (i.e., BP \> 150/100 mm Hg despite optimal therapy) * Active uncontrolled infection * Active alcoholism * No prior medical disorder, including any of the following: * Cardiac arrhythmias requiring anti-arrhythmics (excluding beta-blockers or digoxin for chronic atrial fibrillation) * Active coronary artery disease or ischemia * Myocardial infarction within the past 6 months * NYHA class III-IV congestive heart failure * Pulmonary embolism within the past 6 months * Gastrointestinal bleeding within the past 6 months * No other prior malignancy within the past 5 years, except basal cell or squamous cell skin carcinoma or cured in situ cervical carcinoma * No history or concurrent seizure disorder requiring medications (e.g., antiepileptic drugs) * No history of HIV infection, or chronic hepatitis B or C * No active clinically serious bacterial or fungal infection (i.e., grade 2 CTCAE v. 3) * No condition that is unstable or could jeopardize the safety of the patient and his/her compliance with the study * No substance abuse or medical, psychological, or social condition that could interfere with adherence to the study * No known or suspected allergy to the investigational agent or to any agent given concurrently * No presence of asthenia or rash \> CTC grade 1 at enrollment * Must be registered in a national health-care system PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY: * No prior orthotopic liver transplantation * Not a candidate for orthotopic liver transplantation * No prior systemic or loco-regional treatment for HCC * No prior organ allograft * No treatment with any other investigational medicinal product within the past 28 days * No concurrent treatment with full-dose anticoagulants * Deep-vein or catheter-associated thrombosis prophylaxis allowed * Warfarin or heparin therapy allowed if the coagulation parameters were within the acceptable ranges prior to initiation of anticoagulant therapy * No concurrent or chronic co-administration of CYP3A4 inducers (e.g., rifampin, Hypericum perforatum, phenytoin, carbamazepine, phenobarbital, or dexamethasone)