Inclusion Criteria

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

- One of the following conditions:

- Histologically confirmed unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma

- Serum alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) level greater than 500 ng/mL with cirrhosis

- Serum AFP level greater than 500 ng/mL with a liver mass and positive hepatitis
B or C serology

- Receiving ablation therapy with embolization

- Extrahepatic disease allowed

- No brain metastases

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

Age:

- 18 and over

Performance status:

- ECOG 0-2

Life expectancy:

- Not specified

Hematopoietic:

- Absolute neutrophil count greater than 1,500/mm^3

- Platelet count greater than 50,000/mm^3

- Hemoglobin greater than 8.0 g/dL

Hepatic:

- See Disease Characteristics

- Bilirubin less than 2.0 mg/dL

- SGOT or SGPT less than 5 times upper limit of normal (ULN)

- PT or INR less than 1.6 times ULN (if not receiving warfarin for anticoagulation)

- Albumin greater than 2.5 g/dL

Renal:

- Creatinine less than 1.8 mg/dL

Pulmonary:

- DLCO at least 50% predicted OR

- DLCO at least 70% predicted if total lung capacity less than 80% predicted

- No significant lung disease

Other:

- Not pregnant or nursing

- Negative pregnancy test

- Fertile patients must use effective contraception

- No other malignancy within the past 5 years except nonmelanoma skin cancer or
carcinoma in situ of the cervix

- No uncontrolled infection or pain

- No other condition that would significantly impair cognitive functioning during the
study

- No overt psychosis, mental disability, or other incompetency that would preclude
study

- No other life-threatening illness for which the prognosis is poorer than for
hepatocellular carcinoma

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

Biologic therapy:

- No concurrent interferon

Chemotherapy:

- No prior chemotherapy within 4 weeks of initiating ablation therapy

- No concurrent chemotherapy

Endocrine therapy:

- Not specified

Radiotherapy:

- No prior radiotherapy within 4 weeks of initiating ablation therapy

- Concurrent radiotherapy allowed

Surgery:

- See Disease Characteristics

Other:

- See Disease Characteristics

- No prior ablation therapy

- No other concurrent Sho-saiko-to or any of its constituent plants

- No other concurrent anticancer medications