Isolated Hepatic Perfusion With Melphalan in Treating Patients With Primary Unresectable Liver Cancer or Liver Metastases

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: * Histologically or cytologically proven liver cancer meeting 1 of the following criteria: * Primary unresectable hepatocellular or cholangiocellular carcinoma * Metastatic cancer to the liver originating from one of the following: * Intraocular melanoma (closed to accrual as of 10/17/03) * Islet cell carcinoma * Adenocarcinoma of the colon or rectum limited to parenchyma of the liver * No evidence of other unresectable extrahepatic colorectal metastasis * Other neuroendocrine tumors, such as carcinoid tumors * Measurable disease PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: Age: * Any age Performance status: * ECOG 0-2 Life expectancy: * Not specified Hematopoietic: * Platelet count greater than 100,000/mm\^3 * Hematocrit greater than 27.0% * WBC at least 2,500/mm\^3 Hepatic: * Bilirubin less than 2.0 mg/dL (3.0 mg/dL for patients with Gilbert's syndrome) * PT no greater than 2 seconds above upper limit of normal * Elevated SGOT and SGPT allowed if not due to hepatitis * No biopsy-proven cirrhosis or evidence of significant portal hypertension * No prior or concurrent veno-occlusive disease * Patients with positive hepatitis B or C surface antigen serology and chronic active hepatitis are eligible provided there is no evidence of cirrhosis Renal: * Creatinine no greater than 1.5 mg/dL OR * Creatinine clearance greater than 60 mL/min Cardiovascular: * Congestive heart failure allowed if LVEF ≥ 40% Pulmonary: * No chronic obstru…