Liposomal Doxorubicin and Trastuzumab in Treating Women With Locally Advanced, Inflammatory, or Metastatic Breast Cancer

You may be eligible if

• DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:
• Histologically or cytologically confirmed locally advanced, inflammatory, or metastatic adenocarcinoma of the breast that has been treated with no more than 1 prior systemic cytotoxic regimen
• Overexpression of HER2 protein (2+ or 3+)
• Evaluable disease
• History of brain metastases allowed if off steroids and asymptomatic, with a 3 month or greater interval since last dose of brain irradiation, and no evidence of progression
• Hormone receptor status:
• * Not specified
• PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:
• Age:
• 18 and over
• Sex:
• Female
• Menopausal status:
• Not specified
• Performance status:
• ECOG 0-1
• Life expectancy:
• Not specified
• Hematopoietic:
• Absolute neutrophil count at least 1,500/mm\^3
• Platelet count at least 100,000/mm\^3
• Hemoglobin at least 10 g/dL
• Hepatic:
• Bilirubin no greater than 1.5 times upper limit of normal (ULN)
• Renal:
• AST or ALT no greater than 4 times ULN
• Cardiovascular:
• Adequate cardiac function
• LVEF at least 50% predicted or lower limit of normal
• Other:
• Not pregnant or nursing
• Negative pregnancy test
• Fertile patients must use effective contraception
• No other concurrent medical or psychological condition that would preclude study compliance
• No history of hypersensitivity to anthracyclines, eggs, or egg products
• PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:
• Biologic therapy:
• Prior trastuzumab (Herceptin) allowed
• Chemotherapy:
• See Disease Characteristics
• At least 3 weeks since prior antineoplastic therapy
• No more than 1 prior systemic cytotoxic regimen for locally advanced, metastatic, or inflammatory breast cancer
• No prior anthracyclines greater than 240 mg/m2
• No other concurrent antineoplastic agents
• No concurrent treatment with other liposomal products other than doxorubicin HCl liposome
• Endocrine therapy:
• See Disease Characteristics
• At least 3 weeks since prior hormonal agents
• No concurrent hormonal therapy
• Radiotherapy:
• See Disease Characteristics
• Surgery:
• Not specified
• Other:
• At least 3 weeks since other prior investigational drugs