Zoledronate in Treating Bone Marrow Micrometastases in Women With Stage I, Stage II, or Stage III Breast Cancer

OBJECTIVES: Primary * Determine the response of bone marrow micrometastases, as measured by immunocytochemistry/flow cytometry (IC/FC), during and after 2 years of treatment with zoledronate in women with stage I-III breast cancer. Secondary * Evaluate the effects of zoledronate on the bone osteoclast activation marker, n-telopeptide, in these patients. * Evaluate the incidence of distant recurrences in high-risk women with early-stage breast cancer and bone marrow micrometastases who receive adjuvant zoledronate. OUTLINE: This is a pilot study. Patients receive zoledronate IV over 15 minutes once a month for 2 years in the absence of disease progression or unacceptable toxicity. After completion of study treatment, patients are followed every 6 months. PROJECTED ACCRUAL: A total of 35 patients will be accrued for this study.