Docetaxel and Flavopiridol in Treating Patients With Locally Advanced or Metastatic Breast Cancer

You may be eligible if

• DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:
• Histologically confirmed stage III or IV adenocarcinoma of the breast
• Phase I:
• * Evaluable disease allowed
• Phase II:
• * At least 1 site of measurable disease
• No bone metastasis as only site of disease
• No carcinomatous meningitis or brain metastases
• Hormone receptor status:
• * Not specified
• PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:
• Age:
• 18 and over
• Sex:
• Male or female
• Menopausal status:
• Not specified
• Performance status:
• ECOG 0-2
• Life expectancy:
• Not specified
• Hematopoietic:
• Granulocyte count at least 1,500/mm\^3
• Platelet count at least 100,000/mm\^3
• No active coagulopathy requiring therapeutic anticoagulation
• Hepatic:
• Bilirubin no greater than upper limit of normal (ULN)
• SGOT no greater than 1.5 times ULN
• Alkaline phosphatase no greater than 2.5 times ULN
• No Gilbert's disease
• Renal:
• Creatinine no greater than 1.5 mg/dL
• Cardiovascular:
• Left ventricular ejection fraction at least 50% without clinical signs or symptoms of heart failure
• No uncontrolled hypertension (sustained systolic blood pressure (BP) greater than 180 mm Hg or diastolic BP greater than 100 mm Hg)
• No uncontrolled cardiac arrhythmia
• No myocardial infarction within the past year
• No significant ischemia or valvular heart disease
• Other:
• Not pregnant or nursing
• Negative pregnancy test
• Fertile patients must use effective contraception
• No medical or psychiatric condition that would increase risk
• No other malignancy within the past 5 years except carcinoma in situ of the cervix or nonmelanomatous skin cancer
• No grade 2 or greater peripheral neuropathy
• No diabetes mellitus with a fasting blood sugar greater than 200 mg/dL
• No active unresolved infection
• No serious concurrent medical illness
• No history of hypersensitivity reaction to products containing polysorbate 80 (Tween 80)
• PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:
• Biologic therapy:
• Not specified
• Chemotherapy:
• No prior flavopiridol
• Prior adjuvant chemotherapy for advanced disease allowed if within 6 months of diagnosis of metastatic disease
• At least 4 weeks since prior chemotherapy (6 weeks for nitrosourea or 8 weeks for UCN-01) and recovered
• Phase I:
• * Any number of prior chemotherapy regimens for metastatic carcinoma of the breast allowed
• Phase II:
• * No more than 2 prior chemotherapy regimens for metastatic carcinoma of the breast
• Endocrine therapy:
• Prior hormonal therapy in the metastatic or adjuvant setting allowed
• At least 2 weeks since prior hormonal therapy and no evidence of disease improvement by radiography after therapy
• Concurrent corticosteroids allowed if for study premedication or hypersensitivity reactions/adverse events
• Radiotherapy:
• No concurrent radiotherapy
• Surgery:
• Not specified
• Other:
• No other concurrent antineoplastic therapies
• No other concurrent investigational drugs