This is a phase I-II trial in which patients with stage IIB-IIIC breast cancer will receive:
1. Neoadjuvant weekly paclitaxel (80 mg/m2 IV weekly x 12 weeks) plus vorinostat (200 or 300 mg PO BID on days 1-3 each paclitaxel dose) and trastuzumab (4 mg/kg loading dose, 2 mg/kg IV weekly x 12 total doses if HER2 positive, followed by:
2. Doxorubicin (60 mg/m2) plus cyclophosphamide (600 mg/m2) every 2 weeks x 4 cycles (plus G-CSF), followed by:
3. Surgery (lumpectomy or mastectomy)