DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

• Histologically confirmed hepatocellular cancer

  • Recurrent, metastatic, or unresectable disease
  • Progressive disease

• Unidimensionally measurable disease

  • At least 20 mm by conventional techniques OR at least 10 mm by spiral CT scan
  • Pleural effusions and ascites not considered measurable, but may be present
• Brain metastases allowed only if controlled by surgery or stereotactic radiotherapy

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

Age

• 18 and over

Performance status

• Karnofsky 70-100%

Life expectancy

• At least 2 months

Hematopoietic

• WBC at least 3,000/mm^3
• Absolute neutrophil count at least 1,500/mm^3
• Platelet count at least 100,000/mm^3

Hepatic

• Bilirubin less than 3.0 mg/dL
• AST/ALT no greater than 5 times upper limit of normal

Renal

• Creatinine less than 2.0 mg/dL OR
• Creatinine clearance at least 60 mL/min

Cardiovascular

• No symptomatic congestive heart failure
• No unstable angina pectoris
• No cardiac arrhythmia

Pulmonary

• No pulmonary fibrosis
• No pulmonary interstitial process

Other

• No clinically significant neuropathy
• No allergy to platinum compounds or to antiemetics used in study
• No HIV-positive patients receiving antiretroviral therapy
• No ongoing or active infection
• No other concurrent uncontrolled illness
• Not pregnant or nursing
• Negative pregnancy test
• Fertile patients must use effective contraception

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

Biologic therapy

• No concurrent colony-stimulating factors during first course of study

Chemotherapy

• No prior oxaliplatin
• No more than 2 prior chemotherapy regimens
• At least 4 weeks since prior chemoembolization
• At least 4 weeks since prior chemotherapy

Endocrine therapy

• Not specified

Radiotherapy

• See Disease Characteristics
• At least 4 weeks since prior radiotherapy

Surgery

• See Disease Characteristics

Other

• At least 4 weeks since prior alcohol injections
• At least 4 weeks since prior therapy
• No other concurrent investigational agents
• No other concurrent investigational or commercial agents or therapies to treat this malignancy