Combination Chemotherapy in Treating Women With Breast Cancer That is Metastatic or Cannot be Treated With Surgery

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

Histologically confirmed breast cancer

Metastatic or unresectable local disease
Measurable or evaluable disease
No ascites or pleural effusion as only metastatic site
No brain or leptomeningeal metastases

Hormone receptor status:

Not specified

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

Age:

18 and over

Sex:

Female

Menopausal status:

Not specified

Performance status:

0-2

Life expectancy:

At least 3 months

Hematopoietic:

Granulocyte count greater than 1,500/mm3
Platelet count greater than 100,000/mm3

Hepatic:

Bilirubin normal
SGOT/SGPT less than 1.5 times upper limit of normal (ULN)
Alkaline phosphatase less than 2.5 times ULN

Renal:

Creatinine no greater than 2 times ULN

Cardiovascular:

Adequate cardiac function
No history of significant atherosclerotic coronary disease (e.g., uncontrolled angina)
No history of significant cardiac arrhythmia

Other:

No serious medical or psychiatric illness that would preclude study
No active uncontrolled bacterial, viral, or fungal infection
Not pregnant or nursing
Negative pregnancy test
Fertile patients must use effective contraception

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

Biologic therapy:

No prior high-dose chemotherapy and autologous transplantation

Chemotherapy:

At least 3 weeks since prior chemotherapy and recovered
No more than 2 prior chemotherapy regimens for metastatic breast cancer (in addition to adjuvant therapy)
No prior docetaxel
No prior high-dose chemotherapy and autologous transplantation
Prior paclitaxel allowed

Endocrine therapy:

No concurrent hormonal therapy, except as contraception

Radiotherapy:

At least 3 weeks since prior radiotherapy and recovered
Concurrent radiotherapy for relief of localized pain or obstruction allowed

Surgery:

At least 2 weeks since prior major surgery and recovered

Other:

No other concurrent cytotoxic agents