Chemotherapy in Treating Children With Liver Cancer

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: * Histologically proven hepatoblastoma or hepatocellular carcinoma * Diagnostic surgical biopsy strongly recommended for all patients and mandatory for the following: * Children under 6 months of age * Children over 3 years of age * Patients with a normal serum alfa-fetoprotein (alfa-FP) * Compatible imaging and raised serum alfa-FP level mandatory if no biopsy performed * Standard risk disease: * Tumors involving no more than 3 hepatic sections * No extrahepatic abdominal disease * No metastases * High risk disease: * Tumors involving all 4 hepatic sections AND/OR * Evidence of extrahepatic metastases or abdominal disease * Presence or absence of metastatic disease must be documented by chest x-ray and/or lung CT scan PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: Age: * 16 and under at diagnosis Performance status: * Not specified Life expectancy: * Not specified Hematopoietic: * Not specified Hepatic: * Not specified Renal: * Not specified PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY: Biologic therapy: * Not specified Chemotherapy: * Not specified Endocrine therapy: * Not specified Radiotherapy: * Not specified Surgery: * See Disease Characteristics * Prior surgery allowed