Paclitaxel Albumin-Stabilized Nanoparticle Formulation in Treating Patients of Different Ages With Metastatic Breast Cancer

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

Inclusion criteria:

Diagnosis of metastatic breast cancer
Any estrogen receptor, progesterone receptor, or HER-2/neu status allowed as long as the patient will receive paclitaxel albumin-stabilized nanoparticle formulation alone
First- or second-line chemotherapy treatment for metastatic disease planned

Exclusion criteria:

Untreated CNS metastases or symptomatic CNS metastases requiring escalating doses of corticosteroids

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

Karnofsky performance status 70-100%
WBC ≥ 3,000/mm³
ANC ≥ 1,500/mm³
Platelet count ≥ 100,000/mm³
Hemoglobin ≥ 9.0 g/dL
AST and ALT ≤ 2.5 times upper limit of normal (ULN)
Alkaline phosphatase ≤ 2.5 times ULN (unless bone metastases are present in the absence of liver metastases)
Bilirubin ≤ 1.5 mg/dL
Peripheral neuropathy ≤ grade 1
Creatinine clearance ≥ 30 mL/min (calculated or 24-hour)
Negative pregnancy test
Fertile patients must use effective contraception
Not pregnant or nursing
No known history of allergic reactions to paclitaxel
No serious or uncontrolled infection
Ability to understand and the willingness to sign a written informed consent document

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

See Disease Characteristics
No ≥ grade 2 toxicity from prior therapy (other than alopecia)
No taxane for adjuvant therapy or metastatic disease within the past 12 months
No other concurrent investigational agents
No other concurrent anticancer therapy