RATIONALE: Drugs used in chemotherapy work in different ways to stop the growth of tumor cells, either by killing the cells or by stopping them from dividing. Giving more than one drug (combination chemotherapy) may kill more tumor cells. It is not yet known whether surgery is more effective with or without chemotherapy or which chemotherapy regimen may be more effective in treating young patients with liver cancer.

PURPOSE: This phase III trial is studying the side effects of giving doxorubicin hydrochloride together with combination chemotherapy and to compare different chemotherapy regimens to see how well they work in treating young patients with newly diagnosed liver cancer.