Docetaxel in Treating Patients With Metastatic Breast Cancer

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

Histologically confirmed metastatic breast cancer
Bidimensionally measurable disease
No uncontrolled brain metastases or leptomeningeal disease

Hormone receptor status:

Not specified

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

Age:

18 and over

Sex:

Female

Menopausal status:

Not specified

Performance status:

Zubrod 0-2

Life expectancy:

At least 3 months

Hematopoietic:

Platelet count at least 100,000/mm^3
Neutrophil count at least 1,000/mm^3
Hemoglobin at least 8 g/dL

Hepatic:

Bilirubin no greater than upper limit of normal (ULN)
SGOT/SGPT no greater than 1.5 times ULN (2.5 times ULN provided alkaline phosphatase no greater than ULN)
Alkaline phosphatase no greater than 2.5 times ULN (4 times ULN provided transaminases no greater than ULN)

Renal:

Creatinine no greater than 2.0 mg/dL

Neurologic:

No peripheral neuropathy grade 2 or greater
Neurologic status must be stable 2 weeks after surgery and/or radiotherapy for brain metastasis
No psychiatric disorders

Other:

Not pregnant or nursing
Negative pregnancy test
Fertile patients must use effective contraception
No other malignancy within the past 5 years except non-melanoma skin cancer, carcinoma in situ of the cervix, or other curatively treated malignancy
No other serious condition or illness, including active infection
No history of hypersensitivity to polysorbate 80

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

Biologic therapy:

Not specified

Chemotherapy:

Recovered from prior chemotherapy
No more than 2 prior chemotherapy regimens (no more than 1 prior regimen for metastatic disease)
No prior paclitaxel or docetaxel (except in the adjuvant setting)
At least 12 months since prior adjuvant taxane (paclitaxel or docetaxel)
Prior anthracycline-based therapy allowed

Endocrine therapy:

Not specified

Radiotherapy:

At least 2 weeks since prior radiotherapy and recovered

Surgery:

At least 2 weeks since prior surgery and recovered