Inclusion Criteria

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

- Histologically confirmed breast cancer

- Metastatic or unresectable local disease

- Measurable or evaluable disease

- No ascites or pleural effusion as only metastatic site

- No brain or leptomeningeal metastases

- Hormone receptor status:

- Not specified

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

Age:

- 18 and over

Sex:

- Female

Menopausal status:

- Not specified

Performance status:

- 0-2

Life expectancy:

- At least 3 months

Hematopoietic:

- Granulocyte count greater than 1,500/mm3

- Platelet count greater than 100,000/mm3

Hepatic:

- Bilirubin normal

- SGOT/SGPT less than 1.5 times upper limit of normal (ULN)

- Alkaline phosphatase less than 2.5 times ULN

Renal:

- Creatinine no greater than 2 times ULN

Cardiovascular:

- Adequate cardiac function

- No history of significant atherosclerotic coronary disease (e.g., uncontrolled
angina)

- No history of significant cardiac arrhythmia

Other:

- No serious medical or psychiatric illness that would preclude study

- No active uncontrolled bacterial, viral, or fungal infection

- Not pregnant or nursing

- Negative pregnancy test

- Fertile patients must use effective contraception

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

Biologic therapy:

- No prior high-dose chemotherapy and autologous transplantation

Chemotherapy:

- At least 3 weeks since prior chemotherapy and recovered

- No more than 2 prior chemotherapy regimens for metastatic breast cancer (in addition
to adjuvant therapy)

- No prior docetaxel

- No prior high-dose chemotherapy and autologous transplantation

- Prior paclitaxel allowed

Endocrine therapy:

- No concurrent hormonal therapy, except as contraception

Radiotherapy:

- At least 3 weeks since prior radiotherapy and recovered

- Concurrent radiotherapy for relief of localized pain or obstruction allowed

Surgery:

- At least 2 weeks since prior major surgery and recovered

Other:

- No other concurrent cytotoxic agents