Tipifarnib Plus Trastuzumab in Treating Patients With Metastatic Breast Cancer

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

* Histologically or cytologically confirmed metastatic adenocarcinoma of the breast

  * HER2/neu 3+ by immunohistochemical staining

    * 2+ eligible provided HER2/neu positive by fluorescent in-situ hybridization (FISH)
    * HER2/neu positive by FISH alone allowed
* Unidimensionally measurable disease

  * At least 20 mm by conventional techniques OR at least 10 mm by spiral CT scan
* Must have received prior trastuzumab (Herceptin)
* Patients with known brain metastases meeting any of the following criteria are not eligible:

  * Require high-dose steroid therapy or enzyme-inducing anticonvulsant drugs
  * No prior cranial radiotherapy
  * Have progressive neurologic dysfunction that would preclude study evaluation
  * Have evidence of progressive CNS disease by CT scan or MRI
* Hormone receptor status:

  * Not specified

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

Age

* Over 18

Sex

* Male or female

Menopausal status

* Not specified

Performance status

* ECOG 0-2 OR
* Karnofsky 70-100%

Life expectancy

* At least 12 weeks

Hematopoietic

* Absolute neutrophil count at least 1,500/mm\^3
* Platelet count at least 100,000/mm\^3
* Hemoglobin at least 9.0 g/dL

Hepatic

* Bilirubin no greater than 1.5 times upper limit of normal (ULN)
* AST and ALT no greater than 2.5 times ULN (5 times ULN if liver metastases present)

Renal

* Creatinine no greater than 1.5 times ULN OR
* Creatinine clearance greater than 60 mL/min

Cardiovascular

* No symptomatic congestive heart failure
* No unstable angina pectoris
* No cardiac arrhythmia
* Ejection fraction greater than 50% by MUGA or echocardiogram

Gastrointestinal

* No gastrointestinal tract disease resulting in an inability to tolerate oral medication
* No requirement for IV alimentation
* No active peptic ulcer disease

Other

* Not pregnant or nursing
* Negative pregnancy test
* Fertile patients must use effective contraception
* No significant traumatic injury within the past 21 days
* No other malignancy within the past 3 years except nonmelanoma skin cancer or carcinoma in situ of the cervix
* No ongoing or active infection
* No prior allergic reaction attributed to compounds of similar chemical or biological composition to tipifarnib (e.g., quinolones) or trastuzumab
* No psychiatric illness or social situation that would preclude study compliance
* No other concurrent medical illness that would preclude study compliance

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

Biologic therapy

* See Disease Characteristics
* No prior bone marrow transplantation with high-dose chemotherapy
* No concurrent immunotherapy

Chemotherapy

* See Biologic therapy
* No more than 2 prior chemotherapy regimens for metastatic disease
* More than 4 weeks since prior chemotherapy (6 weeks for nitrosoureas or mitomycin) and recovered

  * Prior combination chemotherapy allowed
* No concurrent chemotherapy

Endocrine therapy

* See Disease Characteristics
* Prior hormonal therapy allowed
* No concurrent hormonal therapy for cancer

Radiotherapy

* See Disease Characteristics
* More than 4 weeks since prior wide-field radiotherapy and recovered
* No concurrent radiotherapy

Surgery

* Prior modified radical mastectomy or lumpectomy with axillary node dissection allowed
* Prior resection of metastatic lesions allowed
* More than 21 days since prior major surgery
* No prior surgery affecting absorption

Other

* No prior tipifarnib
* More than 6 weeks since initiation of bisphosphonate therapy (if bone lesions are the only site of measurable disease)
* Bisphosphonate therapy may not be initiated during study
* No other concurrent investigational agents
* No other concurrent anticancer therapy
* No concurrent antacids within 2 hours of study drug