Chemotherapeutic Agents in Brain/Breast

You may be eligible if

• DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:
• Histologically or cytologically confirmed breast carcinoma with ≥ 1 suspected or known parenchymal brain metastases for which surgical resection or biopsy is clinically indicated
• Treating oncologist must agree that the patient would derive clinical benefit from receiving ≥ 1 of the following study agents:
• * Capecitabine, cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin hydrochloride, gemcitabine hydrochloride, lapatinib ditosylate, paclitaxel, trastuzumab (Herceptin®), or vinorelbine ditartrate
• Hormone receptor status not specified
• PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:
• Menopausal status not specified
• Karnofsky performance status 50-100%
• Life expectancy ≥ 3 months
• Absolute granulocyte count ≥ 1,500/mm³
• Platelet count ≥ 100,000/mm³
• Hemoglobin ≥ 10 g/dL
• Creatinine ≤ 1.5 times upper limit of normal (ULN)
• Bilirubin (total) ≤ 1.5 times ULN
• AST ≤ 3 times ULN
• Not pregnant or nursing
• Negative pregnancy test
• Fertile patients must use effective contraception during and for three months after completion of study treatment
• No severe NYHA class III-IV cardiac insufficiency with uncontrolled and/or unstable cardiac or coronary artery disease
• No history of noncompliance to medical regimens or inability or unwillingness to return for all scheduled visits
• PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:
• No toxicity \> grade 2 from prior chemotherapy or radiotherapy remains at the time of study entry
• At least 60 days since prior bevacizumab
• At least 4 weeks since prior cranial radiotherapy
• At least 3 weeks since prior cytotoxic chemotherapy (6 weeks for nitrosoureas or mitomycin C)
• At least 2 weeks since prior non-cytotoxic drugs (e.g., small molecule-targeted drugs)
• No concurrent experimental therapies
• Concurrent hormone therapy and/or trastuzumab (Herceptin®) allowed