Rebeccamycin Analogue in Treating Women With Stage IIIB or Stage IV Breast Cancer

PRIMARY OBJECTIVES: I. To assess the activity of rebeccamycin analog as therapy for advanced breast cancer when administered in two different treatment schedules. SECONDARY OBJECTIVES: I. To assess the toxicity associated with administration of rebeccamycin analog therapy in women with advanced breast cancer. II. To evaluate topoisomerase I and II levels in human lymphocytes following treatment with rebeccamycin analog. OUTLINE: This is a randomized, multicenter study. Patients are randomized to one of two treatment arms. Arm I: Patients receive rebeccamycin analogue IV over 60 minutes on day 1. Arm II: Patients receive rebeccamycin analogue IV over 60 minutes on days 1-5. In all arms, courses repeat every 21 days in the absence of disease progression or unacceptable toxicity.