Tipifarnib and Combination Chemotherapy in Treating Patients With Stage II or Stage III Breast Cancer

Inclusion Criteria:

Histologically or cytologically confirmed adenocarcinoma of the breast; clinical stage IIB, IIIA, IIIB, or IIIC disease
At least 1 week since prior tamoxifen or other selective estrogen receptor modulator for prevention or for other indications (e.g., osteoporosis or prior ductal carcinoma in situ)
HER-2/neu-negative by immunohistochemistry or fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH)

Hormone receptor status:

Estrogen and/or progesterone receptor-positive* [Note: *Patients enrolled on the phase I portion of the trial may have estrogen and progesterone receptor-negative disease]
Normal organ function including:
WBC >= 3,000/mm^3
Absolute neutrophil count >= 1,500/mm^3
Platelet count >= 100,000/mm^3
Bilirubin normal
AST and ALT =< 2.5 times upper limit of normal
LVEF normal by echocardiogram or nuclear scan
Creatinine normal OR Creatinine clearance >= 60 mL/min
FEV1 >= 1 L* and DLCO >= 50%* [Note: *Only if baseline CT scan of chest shows parenchymal lung disease OR there is a history of chronic obstructive or other pulmonary disease]
No prior chemotherapy, radiotherapy, or definitive therapeutic surgery (e.g., mastectomy, lumpectomy, or axillary dissection) for this cancer but prior sentinel lymph node biopsy for this malignancy allowed
No prior adjuvant chemotherapy for a previous breast malignancy
No concurrent combination antiretroviral therapy for HIV-positive patients
No other concurrent investigational agents
No other concurrent anticancer agents or therapies
ECOG performance status 0-1
Fertile patients must use effective contraception

Exclusion criteria:

No other invasive malignancy within the past 5 years except curatively treated basal cell or squamous cell skin cancer or carcinoma in situ of the cervix
No history of allergic reactions attributed to compounds of similar chemical or biological composition to tipifarnib or other study drugs (e.g., imidazoles or quinolones)
No other uncontrolled illness including, but not limited to, any of the following: ongoing or active infection, symptomatic congestive heart failure, unstable angina pectoris, cardiac arrhythmia or psychiatric illness/social situations that would preclude study compliance
Not pregnant or nursing