Inclusion Criteria

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

- Histologically or cytologically confirmed breast cancer

- Must have clinical evidence of stage IV (M1) disease

- HER-2/neu negative (0, 1+, or 2+ by immunohistochemistry or fluorescent in situ
hybridization) OR status unknown

- At least 1 measurable lesion

- At least 20 mm by conventional techniques OR at least 10 mm by spiral CT scan

- Patients with bone-only disease are not eligible

- Ineligible if currently experiencing a complete or partial response to prior hormonal
therapy

- Patients with disease progression after prior response to hormonal therapy are
eligible

- Disease progression without prior hormonal therapy is allowed

- Stable or asymptomatic brain metastasis allowed if:

- Other measurable disease exists

- Cranial irradiation completed and brain metastasis stable for at least 4 weeks
before study

- Hormone receptor status:

- Not specified

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

Age:

- 18 and over

Sex:

- Female

Menopausal status:

- Pre- or post-menopausal

Performance status:

- ECOG 0-2

Life expectancy:

- At least 3 months

Hematopoietic:

- Absolute neutrophil count at least 1,500/mm^3

- Platelet count at least 100,000/mm^3

Hepatic:

- Bilirubin no greater than 1.5 times upper limit of normal (ULN)

- AST and ALT no greater than 2 times ULN

Renal:

- Creatinine no greater than 2 times ULN

- Corrected calcium less than 12 mg/dL

Cardiovascular:

- No New York Heart Association class III or IV heart disease

- No documented myocardial infarction within the past 6 months

- No congestive heart failure

- No unstable angina

- No clinically significant pericardial effusion or arrhythmia

Other:

- No active serious infection

- No prior significant allergic reactions to drugs containing Cremophor, such as
teniposide, cyclosporine, or vitamin K

- No clinically significant (greater than grade 1) peripheral neuropathy

- No other serious underlying medical condition that would preclude study participation

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

Biologic therapy:

- More than 6 months since prior adjuvant bone marrow or peripheral blood stem cell
transplantation

- More than 6 months since prior adjuvant monoclonal antibody therapy

- More than 6 months since prior adjuvant vaccine therapy

- No prior trastuzumab (Herceptin)

- No concurrent anticancer immunotherapy

Chemotherapy:

- No prior chemotherapy for metastatic breast cancer

- More than 6 months since prior adjuvant high-dose chemotherapy

- More than 6 months since prior adjuvant taxanes or any other adjuvant chemotherapy

- Prior adjuvant taxanes allowed only if administered every 3 weeks

Endocrine therapy:

- See Disease Characteristics

- Any number of prior hormonal therapies for metastatic breast cancer allowed

- Patients with definite signs of progression may begin study therapy immediately
after stopping hormonal therapy

- No concurrent anticancer hormonal agents (including megestrol)

Radiotherapy:

- At least 3 weeks since prior radiotherapy (4 weeks for cranial irradiation)

- No prior radiotherapy to 30% or more of bone marrow

- No concurrent radiotherapy except for palliation of painful bone metastasis or
pathologic fractures to the area of known lytic disease

Surgery:

- At least 3 weeks since prior major surgery

Other:

- More than 6 months since prior neoadjuvant therapy

- No other concurrent anticancer drugs