Docetaxel, Capecitabine, and Bevacizumab in Treating Patients With Metastatic Breast Cancer

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

* Histologically or cytologically confirmed invasive breast cancer

  * Clinical evidence of metastatic disease

    * No bone metastases as the only evidence of metastasis
* Measurable disease

  * At least 1 lesion ≥ 2.0 cm by CT scan or MRI OR ≥ 1.0 cm by spiral CT scan

    * Lesions on chest x-ray allowed provided they are clearly defined and surrounded by aerated lung
  * Clincal lesions only considered measurable when they are superficial (e.g., skin nodules or palpable lymph nodes)
  * Target lesion must not have been exposed to prior radiotherapy unless disease has progressed since completion of radiotherapy
  * The following are not considered measurable disease:

    * Bone lesions
    * Leptomeningeal disease
    * Ascites
    * Pleural or pericardial effusion
    * Inflammatory breast disease
    * Lymphangitis cutis or pulmonis
    * Abdominal masses that are not confirmed and followed by imaging techniques
    * Cystic lesions
* No HER2/neu-positive tumors by immunohistochemistry or amplified fluorescence in situ hybridization unless disease has progressed after trastuzumab (Herceptin®)-containing therapy alone or with antiestrogen hormonal therapy for metastatic disease OR trastuzumab is contraindicated
* Prior breast cancer allowed
* No prior or active brain metastases
* Hormone receptor status:

  * Not specified

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

Age

* 18 and over

Sex

* Male or female

Menopausal status

* Not specified

Performance status

* ECOG 0-1

Life expectancy

* At least 3 months

Hematopoietic

* Absolute neutrophil count ≥ 1,500/mm\^3
* Platelet count ≥ 100,000/mm\^3
* Hemoglobin ≥ 8.0 g/dL
* No bleeding diathesis or uncontrolled coagulopathy

Hepatic

* Bilirubin normal
* Meets 1 of the following criteria:

  * AST and ALT normal AND alkaline phosphatase ≤ 5 times upper limit of normal (ULN)
  * AST and ALT ≤ 1.5 times ULN AND alkaline phosphatase ≤ 2.5 times ULN
  * AST and ALT ≤ 5 times ULN AND alkaline phosphatase normal

Renal

* Creatinine clearance ≥ 30 mL/min
* No proteinuria OR
* Protein \< 1 g by 24-hour urine collection
* No nephrotic syndrome

Cardiovascular

* No uncontrolled hypertension (i.e., blood pressure \> 160/90 mm Hg on ≥ 2 different observations ≥ 5 minutes apart)

  * Blood pressure \< 140/90 mm Hg on ≥ 3 different observations over ≥ 14 days, for patients who recently began or adjusted anti-hypertensive medication
* No atrial or venous thrombosis within the past month
* No clinically significant heart disease, including any of the following:

  * Congestive heart failure
  * Symptomatic coronary artery disease
  * Uncontrolled cardiac arrhythmias
  * Unstable angina
* No myocardial infarction within the past 12 months
* No history of cerebrovascular accident

Pulmonary

* No hemoptysis within the past 6 months

Gastrointestinal

* No lack of physical integrity of the upper gastrointestinal tract
* No malabsorption syndrome
* Able to receive oral medication

Other

* No other stage III or IV invasive malignancy requiring treatment within the past 5 years
* No pre-existing peripheral neuropathy \> grade 1
* No history of allergy or hypersensitivity to study drugs, agents that are chemically similar to study drugs, or drugs that contain polysorbate 80
* No prior severe reaction to fluoropyrimidines
* No known hypersensitivity to fluorouracil
* No known dihydropyrimidine dehydrogenase deficiency
* No active infection
* No significant medical condition that would preclude study participation
* Not pregnant or nursing
* Negative pregnancy test
* Fertile patients must use effective contraception during and for 30 days after study participation

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

Biologic therapy

* See Disease Characteristics
* No other concurrent biologic therapy

Chemotherapy

* Prior adjuvant or neoadjuvant chemotherapy allowed for primary disease
* No prior chemotherapy for metastatic disease
* More than 4 weeks since prior cytotoxic chemotherapy
* More than 6 months since prior taxanes (e.g., docetaxel or paclitaxel)
* No other concurrent chemotherapy

Endocrine therapy

* See Disease Characteristics
* Prior antiestrogen hormonal therapy allowed in the adjuvant or metastatic setting

Radiotherapy

* See Disease Characteristics
* More than 4 weeks since prior radiotherapy to a target lesion

  * Prior single-dose palliative radiotherapy allowed within the past 4 weeks
* No concurrent radiotherapy

Surgery

* More than 4 weeks since prior major surgery

Other

* More than 2 weeks since prior aspirin, anticoagulants, or thrombolytic agents

  * Concurrent low-dose warfarin (1 mg/day) to maintain patency of vascular access device allowed
* More than 4 weeks since prior investigational agents
* No concurrent aspirin, anticoagulants, or thrombolytic agents
* No concurrent participation in another clinical trial involving investigational agents or procedures