L-Carnitine L-Tartrate in Preventing Peripheral Neuropathy Caused By Chemotherapy in Women With Metastatic Breast Cancer

You may be eligible if

• DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:
• Diagnosis of breast cancer
• * Metastatic disease
• Scheduled to receive ≥ 1 of the following chemotherapy drugs:
• * Paclitaxel
• * Docetaxel
• * Capecitabine
• * Gemcitabine hydrochloride
• * Concurrent enrollment in the University of Minnesota study "Population Pharmacokinetics and Pharmacogenetics of Gemcitabine in Adult Patients with Solid Tumors" (Human Subjects Code 0508M72989) required
• * Albumin-bound paclitaxel (Abraxane)
• * Doxorubicin hydrochloride
• PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:
• Life expectancy ≥ 6 months
• Serum creatinine \< 2.0 mg/dL
• Not pregnant or nursing
• Fertile patients must use effective contraception
• No history of seizures
• No uncontrolled hypertension
• No history of stroke
• No malabsorption syndrome
• No cognitive impairment
• No history of psychiatric disability affecting informed consent or compliance with drug intake
• Able to take oral medication
• Able to complete questionnaire(s) alone or with assistance
• PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:
• See Disease Characteristics
• No concurrent warfarin
• No concurrent radiotherapy