DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

• Confirmed* diagnosis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC)

  • Stage III disease NOTE: *The histopathology confirmation criterion may be waived in patients with a radiographically identifiable liver mass, known laboratory or clinical risk factors for HCC, or elevated tumor markers such as alpha-fetoprotein (clinical diagnosis).
• Surgical evaluation by a member of the Liver Tumor Program must conclude that the patient is not a candidate for resection or ablation

• No evidence of potential delivery of greater than 16.5 mCi (30 Gy absorbed dose) of radiation to the lungs on either:

  • First TheraSphere® administration
  • Cumulative delivery of radiation to the lungs > 30 Gy over multiple treatments

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

• ECOG performance status 0-2
• Absolute granulocyte count > 1,500/µL
• Platelet count > 75,000/μL
• Creatinine < 3.0 mg/dL
• Serum bilirubin < 2.0 mg/dL

• None of the following contraindications to angiography and selective visceral catheterization allowed:

  • History of severe allergy or intolerance to any contrast media, narcotics, sedatives, or atropine
  • Bleeding diathesis, not correctable by usual forms of therapy
  • Severe peripheral vascular disease that would preclude catheterization
• No portal hypertension with portal venous shunt away from the liver
• No evidence of any detectable Tc-99m MAA flow to the stomach or duodenum, after application of established angiographic techniques to stop such flow
• No significant extrahepatic disease representing an imminent life-threatening outcome
• No severe liver dysfunction (Childs Classification C) or pulmonary insufficiency (requiring continuous oxygen therapy)
• No active uncontrolled infection
• No significant underlying medical or psychiatric illness
• Female patients must be post-menopausal, surgically sterile, or not pregnant
• Negative pregnancy test

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

• Not specified