S9623, Combination Chemotherapy Plus Peripheral Stem Cell Transplantation in Treating Women With Breast Cancer

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: Histologically proven adenocarcinoma of the breast with at least 4 involved axillary and/or intramammary lymph nodes No known T4, N3, or M1 disease Dermal lymphatic involvement without clinical inflammatory changes (edema, peau d'orange, erythema) allowed Must have undergone breast conserving surgery or modified radical mastectomy plus axillary lymph node dissection Surgical margins negative for invasive or noninvasive ductal carcinoma At least 10 nodes sampled No more than 12 weeks since definitive surgery Synchronous bilateral breast carcinoma allowed if: Diagnosed within 4 weeks of initial histologic diagnosis One breast meets the eligibility criteria Other breast has fewer than 10 involved nodes and is not N3 or T4 Both breasts treated by modified radical mastectomy or breast conserving surgery with axillary node dissection Concurrent registration on S9719 Hormone receptor status: Not specified

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: Age: Adult Sex: Female Menopausal status: Any status Performance status: SWOG 0 or 1 Hematopoietic: WBC at least 3,000/mm3 Absolute neutrophil count at least 1,000/mm3 Platelet count at least 100,000/mm3 Hepatic: Bilirubin no greater than 1.5 times upper limit of normal (ULN) SGOT no greater than 1.5 times ULN Hepatitis C status required Renal: Creatinine clearance at least 60 mL/min Cardiovascular: Left ventricular ejection fraction at rest at least 45% by MUGA No EKG abnormalities unless cleared by a cardiologist No uncontrolled or significant cardiac disease No congestive heart failure No second or third degree heart block or other serious cardiac conduction abnormality No atrial or ventricular arrhythmia No requirement for medication known to affect cardiac conduction unless: Given for reasons other than heart failure or arrhythmia Cleared by a cardiologist Pulmonary: FVC and FEV1 at least 60% predicted DLCO at least 60% predicted Other: HIV negative Hepatitis B surface antigen status required No serious medical or psychiatric illness that would preclude informed consent or study participation No second malignancy within the past 5 years except adequately treated basal cell or squamous cell skin cancer, carcinoma in situ of the cervix, or intraductal or lobular carcinoma of the breast (diagnosed at any time) Not pregnant or nursing Fertile patients must use effective contraception

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY: Biologic therapy: Not specified Chemotherapy: No prior chemotherapy Endocrine therapy: No prior hormonal therapy for breast cancer Radiotherapy: No prior radiotherapy to the breast Surgery: See Disease Characteristics