SCH 66336 With or Without Gemcitabine Followed by Surgery Compared With Surgery Alone in Treating Patients With Primary Liver Cancer

Inclusion Criteria: * Histologically or cytologically confirmed resectable primary hepatocellular carcinoma or cholangiocarcinoma * 18 and over * Karnofsky 70-100% * Hematopoietic: Absolute neutrophil count greater than 1,500/mm3 * Platelet count at least 100,000/mm3 * Hemoglobin at least 9 g/dL Hepatic: * Bilirubin no greater than 2 times upper limit of normal (ULN) SGOT or SGPT no greater than 5 times ULN * Albumin at least 2.5 g/dL INR less than 1.3 Renal: * Creatinine no greater than 1.5 mg/dL * Cardiovascular: QTc prolongation no greater than 440 msec Other: * Negative pregnancy test * Fertile patients must use effective barrier contraception * At least 6 weeks since prior radiotherapy and recovered * At least 6 weeks since prior surgery and recovered * At least 6 weeks since prior systemic therapy and recovered Exclusion Criteria: * metastatic disease outside of the liver * pregnant or nursing * malabsorption or other gastrointestinal (GI) condition that would preclude ability to take oral medication and/or GI absorption (e.g., partial small bowel obstruction) * non-malignant systemic disease that would preclude study * active uncontrolled infection No grade II nausea or grade I vomiting despite antiemetic medication * concurrent immunotherapy Chemotherapy: No other concurrent chemotherapy * concurrent hormonal therapy including estrogen therapy * concurrent oral contraceptives or other hormonal methods Concurrent megestrol acetate allowed * concurrent corticosteroid…