Trastuzumab and Interleukin-2 in Treating Patients With Metastatic Breast Cancer

You may be eligible if

• Histologically or cytologically confirmed breast cancer
• * Primary and/or metastatic disease
• HER2 overexpression 3+ by immunohistochemistry (IHC) or fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH)
• * Tumors with HER2 2+ overexpression by IHC allowed if confirmed by FISH
• Progressive disease during or within 12 months of receiving prior regimen containing trastuzumab (Herceptin)
• Unidimensionally measurable disease
• * At least 20 mm by conventional techniques OR at least 10 mm by spiral CT scan
• * The following are not considered measurable:
• * Bone metastases
• * Pleural or peritoneal effusion
• * Ascites
• * Leptomeningeal disease
• * Lymphangitic disease
• * Inflammatory breast cancer
• * Cystic lesions
• * CNS lesions
• CNS metastases allowed if all of the following conditions are met:
• * Asymptomatic
• * At least 3 months since prior surgery and/or cranial irradiation
• * At least 3 weeks since prior steroids
• Hormone receptor status:
• * Not specified
• Male or female
• Performance status - ECOG 0-2
• Granulocyte count at least 1,000/mm\^3
• Platelet count at least 100,000/mm\^3
• Bilirubin no greater than 1.5 times upper limit of normal (ULN)
• SGOT and SGPT no greater than 2 times ULN (5 times ULN for liver metastases)
• Alkaline phosphatase no greater than 2 times ULN (5 times ULN for liver metastases)
• Creatinine no greater than 1.5 times ULN
• LVEF at least lower limit of normal by MUGA or echocardiogram
• No congestive heart failure or active ischemic heart disease
• Not pregnant or nursing
• Negative pregnancy test
• Fertile patients must use effective contraception
• No psychiatric illness, medical condition, or uncontrolled infection that would preclude study
• No underlying immunodeficiency (e.g., HIV or autoimmune disease)
• No other prior malignancy within the past 5 years except nonmelanoma skin cancer or carcinoma in situ of the cervix
• See Disease Characteristics
• Prior cumulative doxorubicin dose no greater than 360 mg/m\^2
• At least 3 weeks since prior chemotherapy
• No more than 2 prior chemotherapy regimens for metastatic disease
• No concurrent chemotherapy
• See Disease Characteristics
• At least 3 weeks since prior endocrine therapy
• No concurrent corticosteroids or dexamethasone
• Concurrent hormones allowed for conditions unrelated to disease (e.g., insulin for diabetes)
• See Disease Characteristics
• At least 3 weeks since prior radiotherapy
• No prior radiotherapy to study lesion, unless evidence of disease progression
• No concurrent palliative radiotherapy
• See Disease Characteristics
• At least 4 weeks since prior major surgery
• No concurrent immunosuppressive drugs