Cyclophosphamide and Vaccine Therapy With or Without Trastuzumab in Treating Patients With Metastatic Breast Cancer

You may be eligible if

• DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:
• Histologically confirmed adenocarcinoma of the breast
• * Does not overexpress HER-2/neu, defined as FISH negative or 0, 1+, or 2+ by IHC
• * Stage IV disease
• Must not be eligible for therapy of known curative potential for metastatic breast cancer
• Measurable or evaluable disease
• Stable CNS disease allowed provided that it's adequately treated and not under active treatment
• Hormone receptor status not specified
• PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:
• Menopausal status not specified
• ECOG performance status 0-1
• ANC \> 1,000/mm\^3
• Platelets \> 100,000/mm\^3
• Serum bilirubin \< 2.0 mg/dL (unless due to Gilbert syndrome)
• AST and ALT \< 2 times upper limit of normal (ULN)
• Alkaline phosphatase \< 5 times ULN
• Serum creatinine \< 2.0 mg/dL
• Ejection fraction normal by MUGA OR ≥ 50% by echocardiogram
• Not pregnant or nursing
• Fertile patients must use effective contraception
• HIV negative
• Asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease that does not require daily systemic corticosteroids allowed
• No prior or concurrent autoimmune disease requiring management with systemic immunosuppression, including any of the following:
• * Inflammatory bowel disease
• * Systemic vasculitis
• * Scleroderma
• * Psoriasis
• * Multiple sclerosis
• * Hemolytic anemia or immune-mediated thrombocytopenia
• * Rheumatoid arthritis
• * Systemic lupus erythematosus
• * Sjogren syndrome
• * Sarcoidosis
• * Other rheumatologic disease
• No other malignancies within the past 5 years, except carcinoma in situ of the cervix, superficial nonmelanoma skin cancer, superficial bladder cancer, or tamoxifen-related endometrial cancer that has been adequately treated
• No active major medical or psychosocial problems that could be complicated by study participation
• No symptomatic intrinsic lung disease or extensive tumor involvement of the lungs resulting in dyspnea at rest
• No uncontrolled medical problems
• No evidence of active acute or chronic infection
• No known severe hypersensitivity to trastuzumab, except mild to moderate infusion reactions that are easily managed and do not recur
• No allergy to corn
• PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:
• See Disease Characteristics
• More than 28 days since prior and no other concurrent chemotherapy, radiation therapy, or biologic therapy (except trastuzumab)
• * Concurrent endocrine therapy and supportive therapy with bisphosphonates allowed
• More than 28 days since prior and no other concurrent participation in an investigational new drug trial
• More than 28 days since prior and no other concurrent systemic oral steroids
• * Topical, ocular, and nasal steroids allowed
• No prior vaccination with the allogeneic GM-CSF-secreting breast tumor vaccine