Chemoembolization Versus Radioembolization in Treating Patients With Liver Cancer That Cannot Be Treated With Radiofrequency Ablation Or Surgery

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: * Hepatocellular Carcinoma confined to the liver that is unresectable with surgery or unable to be treated with radiofrequency ablation diagnosed by biopsy or imaging criteria (CT/MRI) * No segmental, lobar, or main portal vein thrombosis as evidenced by CT or MRI imaging Inclusion Criteria * Adults \> 18 years old of either gender * Diagnosis of liver confined HCC confirmed by histology or American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases (AASLD) guidelines \[59,60\] \[appendix A\]. * Lesions \< 1 cm in diameter have a low likelihood of being malignant and should be followed. Lack of growth over 1-2 years suggests it is not HCC. * AFP \>200 and radiological evidence (arterial hypervascularity) of lesion \> 2 cm does not require biopsy. * Two imaging modalities (triphasic CT, MRI, ultrasound, angiography) demonstrating "arterial hypervascularity" in the background of cirrhosis does not require biopsy * One imaging modality with a lesion with arterial hypervascularity with wash out in early or delayed venous phase, does not require a biopsy * Atypical appearances on imaging requires a biopsy. * Non-conclusive biopsy requires closer monitoring * For non-cirrhotics (by biopsy or imaging findings), diagnosis of HCC requires biopsy * Patients with \<50% liver involvement * Measurable liver confined disease with bi-dimensional measurements, required within 4 weeks of screening. Lesions reported on imaging as "too small to characterize", abdominal lymp…