Partial Breast Irradiation With Chemotherapy

You may be eligible if

• DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:
• Histologically confirmed adenocarcinoma of the breast by routine hematoxylin and eosin (H\&E) staining
• * Primary tumor ≤ 4 cm and 0-3 positive axillary lymph nodes (pathologic T1-2, pathologic N0-N1, M0)
• * Patients with lymph nodes positive only by cytokeratin staining (i.e., H\&E negative) are eligible
• No squamous cell carcinoma or sarcoma of the breast
• Patients must have undergone a segmental mastectomy (SM) with a level I and ll axillary dissection or sentinel lymph node biopsy within the past 14 weeks
• * Surgical margins at the time of SM must be negative (\> 3 mm) for both invasive carcinoma and for non-invasive ductal carcinoma
• No active local-regional disease
• Hormone receptor status not specified
• PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:
• ECOG performance status 0-1
• Sex: female
• Menopausal status not specified
• Not pregnant
• Negative pregnancy test
• Fertile patients must use effective non-hormonal contraception
• No other malignancy within the past 5 years except adequately treated basal cell or squamous cell skin cancer or carcinoma in situ of the cervix
• No other serious or poorly controlled medical or psychiatric condition that could be exacerbated by, or complicate compliance with study treatment
• PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:
• No prior radiation therapy to the breast
• No prior trastuzumab (Herceptin ®)
• No other concurrent chemotherapy
• No concurrent hormonal therapy except the following:
• * Steroids given for adrenal failure
• * Hormones administered for non-disease-related conditions (e.g., insulin for diabetes, synthroid for hypothyroidism)
• * Intermittent dexamethasone as an antiemetic or premedication