Lapatinib Ditosylate in Treating Patients With Ductal Breast Carcinoma In Situ

You may be eligible if

• Participants must be premenopausal or postmenopausal
• Participants must have a diagnosis of ductal carcinoma in situ made by core needle biopsy
• The DCIS cells must have high expression of human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (erbB2) (3+ by immunohistochemical staining or amplification by fluorescence in situ hybridization \[FISH\]), and/or have detectable expression of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) (1+ or more by immunohistochemical staining)
• All participants must be informed of the investigational nature of this study and must sign and give written informed consent in accordance with institutional and federal guidelines
• If subjects are of reproductive potential, they must agree to use a reliable contraceptive method or be sexually abstinent; subjects must fulfill these conditions beginning at the time of starting study medications and ending one month after study termination
• Negative serum pregnancy test (beta-human chorionic gonadotropin \[HCG\]) at baseline (within 30 days of day 0) for women of child bearing potential
• Serum creatinine =\< 1.5 times the institution?s upper limit of normal
• Total bilirubin =\< 1.5 times the institution's upper limits of normal
• Serum glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase (SGOT) =\< 1.5 times the institution's upper limits of normal
• Alkaline phosphatase =\< 1.5 times the institution's upper limits of normal
• Albumin =\< 1.5 times the institution's upper limits of normal
• White blood cells (WBC) \> 4.0 k/uL
• Platelet count \> 100,000/uL
• Hematocrit of \> 30%
• Cardiac ejection fraction within normal limits for the institution by multi gated acquisition scan (MUGA) scan or normal cardiac ultrasound (defined as within the upper limit of normal \[ULN\] for the institution)
• Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status =\< 2
• Willingness to refrain from donating blood to others during the study
• Individuals currently receiving anticoagulation therapy (e.g., Coumadin) are ineligible
• Blood urea nitrogen \[BUN\] \> 1.5 x ULN or
• Creatinine \[Cr\] \> 1.5 x ULN
• SGOT \> 1.5 x ULN
• Serum glutamate pyruvate transaminase (SGPT) \> 1.5 x ULN
• Alkaline phosphatase \> 1.5 x ULN
• Bilirubin \> 1.5x ULN
• Individuals who are currently participating in a study of an investigational drug
• Pregnancy, lactation or unwillingness to use a reliable contraceptive method in women of childbearing potential
• Severe underlying chronic illness or disease, such as uncontrolled diabetes
• Individuals with known congestive heart disease or previous myocardial infarction are ineligible
• Patients taking any prohibited medications
• Individuals with hypokalemia or hypomagnesemia are ineligible unless these conditions are corrected to within normal limits before starting drug
• Individuals with congenital long QT syndrome or baseline QTcF intervals \> 480 msec on electrocardiogram (EKG)
• Individuals taking anti-arrhythmics, beta blockers, or other medications that may lead to QT prolongation
• Individuals who have received a cumulative dose of anthracycline therapy greater than 500 mg/m\^2 are ineligible