Suramin and Paclitaxel in Treating Women With Stage IIIB-IV Breast Cancer

You may be eligible if

• Patients must have histologically or cytologically confirmed stage IIIB or IV metastatic breast cancer (MBC)
• Prior chemotherapy:
• * Phase I: patients must have received prior paclitaxel or other taxanes in either the adjuvant or metastatic setting; prior chemotherapy, radiation or surgery must be completed at least 21 days before study entry; prior treatment with anthracyclines is not required
• * Phase II: up to two prior chemotherapy regimens for stage IIIB or IV MBC; patients must have received prior paclitaxel or other taxanes in either the adjuvant or metastatic setting; prior chemotherapy, radiation or surgery must be completed at least 21 days before study entry; prior treatment with anthracyclines is not required
• Measurable disease (phase II)
• No known brain metastases
• Hormone receptor status:
• * Not specified
• Performance status - Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) 0-2
• White blood cell (WBC) at least 3,000/mm\^3
• Absolute neutrophil count at least 1,000/mm\^3
• Platelet count at least 100,000/mm\^3
• Hemoglobin at least 9.0 g/dL
• Bilirubin no greater than 1.5 mg/dL
• Aspartate aminotransferase (AST)/alanine aminotransferase (ALT) no greater than 2.5 times upper limit of normal
• Creatinine no greater than 1.5 mg/dL
• Left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) at least lower limit of normal
• No symptomatic congestive heart failure
• No unstable angina pectoris
• No cardiac arrhythmia
• Not pregnant or nursing
• Negative pregnancy test
• Fertile patients must use effective contraception
• No history of allergic reactions attributable to compounds of similar chemical or biological composition to Cremophor
• No concurrent uncontrolled illness that would preclude study compliance
• No ongoing or active infection
• No uncontrolled diabetes mellitus
• No psychiatric illness or social situations that would preclude study compliance
• No other malignancy within the past 5 years except basal cell or squamous cell skin cancer or carcinoma in situ of the cervix
• See Disease Characteristics
• At least 3 weeks since prior chemotherapy (6 weeks for nitrosoureas or mitomycin) and recovered
• No more than 2 prior chemotherapy regimens for this malignancy (phase II)
• No concurrent steroids or hormones except the following:
• * Steroids to prevent hypersensitivity reactions prior to paclitaxel administration
• * Hormones for nondisease-related conditions (e.g., insulin for diabetes)
• At least 3 weeks since prior radiotherapy and recovered
• At least 3 weeks since prior surgery and recovered
• No concurrent combination antiretroviral therapy for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-positive patients
• No other concurrent investigational agents
• Concurrent bisphosphonates (i.e., pamidronate or zoledronate) are allowed for the treatment of hypercalcemia or palliation of skeletal metastases