Docetaxel or Paclitaxel in Treating Women With Unresectable Locally Advanced or Metastatic Breast Cancer

You may be eligible if

• DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:
• Histologically proven unresectable locally advanced or metastatic breast cancer
• * Refractory or relapsed disease after neoadjuvant or adjuvant anthracyclines
• At least one bidimensionally measurable lesion
• No brain metastasis
• No bone metastases, lymphangitis carcinomatous, ascites, or pleural effusion as sole site of metastatic disease
• Hormone receptor status:
• * Known hormone receptor status
• PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:
• Age:
• 18 to 75
• Sex:
• Female
• Menopausal status:
• Not specified
• Performance status:
• ECOG 0-2 OR
• Karnofsky 60-100%
• Life expectancy:
• At least 12 weeks
• Hematopoietic:
• Absolute neutrophil count at least 1,500/mm\^3
• Platelet count at least 100,000/mm\^3
• Hepatic:
• AST and ALT no greater than 2.5 times upper limit of normal (ULN)
• Alkaline phosphatase no greater than 2.5 times ULN
• Bilirubin normal
• Renal:
• Creatinine no greater than 1.5 times ULN
• Cardiovascular:
• No uncontrolled angina or arrhythmia
• No myocardial infarction within the past 6 months
• No New York Heart Association class III or IV heart disease
• Other:
• No sensitive neuropathy worse than grade 2
• No other significant, uncontrolled medical or psychiatric condition
• No serious active infection
• Not pregnant or nursing
• Fertile patients must use effective contraception
• No other prior malignancy except treated nonmelanomatous skin cancer or carcinoma in situ of the cervix
• PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:
• Biologic therapy:
• At least 4 weeks since prior specific antitumoral immunotherapy
• Chemotherapy:
• See Disease Characteristics
• No prior taxanes
• At least 4 weeks since other prior specific antitumoral chemotherapy
• Endocrine therapy:
• At least 4 weeks since prior specific antitumoral hormonal therapy
• Radiotherapy:
• At least 4 weeks since prior specific antitumoral radiotherapy
• Surgery:
• Not specified
• Other:
• No other concurrent experimental medication