DHEA in Treating Women Undergoing Surgery for Stage I, Stage II, or Stage III Breast Cancer

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

Histologically or cytologically confirmed invasive adenocarcinoma of the breast

Stage I (T1c), II, or III disease (AJCC staging system)

Lesion ≥ 1 cm on breast imaging studies (mammogram, ultrasound, or MRI)
HER2/neu-negative tumor
Planning to receive dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) prior to surgery

Disease amenable to surgery with curative intent

Scheduled to undergo surgery immediately after completion of DHEA
No locally advanced or metastatic disease not amenable to surgery

Hormone receptor status:

Estrogen receptor- and progesterone receptor-negative tumor
Androgen receptor-positive tumor

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

Menopausal status not specified
ECOG performance status (PS) 0-2 OR Karnofsky PS 60-100%
ANC ≥ 1,000/mm^3
Platelet count ≥ 75,000/mm^3
AST and ALT ≤ 2.5 times upper limit of normal (ULN)
Alkaline phosphatase ≤ 2.5 times ULN
Bilirubin ≤ 2 times ULN
Hemoglobin > 9 g/dL
Creatinine normal OR creatinine clearance ≥ 60 mL/min
Not pregnant or nursing
Negative pregnancy test
Fertile patients must use effective contraception during and for ≥ 1 week after completion of study therapy
No history of allergic reactions attributed to compounds of similar chemical or biological composition to DHEA or anastrozole

No concurrent uncontrolled illness, including but not limited to, any of the following:

Ongoing or active infection
Symptomatic congestive heart failure
Unstable angina pectoris
Cardiac arrhythmia
Psychiatric illness or social situation that would limit compliance with study requirements

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

See Disease Characteristics
More than 5 years since prior surgery, radiotherapy, biological therapy, hormone therapy, and/or chemotherapy for invasive breast cancer
No other concurrent antineoplastic or antitumor agents
No other concurrent investigational agents