Paclitaxel With or Without Carboplatin in Treating Women With Metastatic Breast Cancer

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