Tipifarnib and Combination Chemotherapy in Treating Patients With Stage II or Stage III Breast Cancer

Inclusion Criteria:

* Histologically or cytologically confirmed adenocarcinoma of the breast; clinical stage IIB, IIIA, IIIB, or IIIC disease
* At least 1 week since prior tamoxifen or other selective estrogen receptor modulator for prevention or for other indications (e.g., osteoporosis or prior ductal carcinoma in situ)
* HER-2/neu-negative by immunohistochemistry or fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH)
* Hormone receptor status:

  * Estrogen and/or progesterone receptor-positive\* \[Note: \*Patients enrolled on the phase I portion of the trial may have estrogen and progesterone receptor-negative disease\]
* Normal organ function including:
* WBC \>= 3,000/mm\^3
* Absolute neutrophil count \>= 1,500/mm\^3
* Platelet count \>= 100,000/mm\^3
* Bilirubin normal
* AST and ALT =\< 2.5 times upper limit of normal
* LVEF normal by echocardiogram or nuclear scan
* Creatinine normal OR Creatinine clearance \>= 60 mL/min
* FEV1 \>= 1 L\* and DLCO \>= 50%\* \[Note: \*Only if baseline CT scan of chest shows parenchymal lung disease OR there is a history of chronic obstructive or other pulmonary disease\]
* No prior chemotherapy, radiotherapy, or definitive therapeutic surgery (e.g., mastectomy, lumpectomy, or axillary dissection) for this cancer but prior sentinel lymph node biopsy for this malignancy allowed
* No prior adjuvant chemotherapy for a previous breast malignancy
* No concurrent combination antiretroviral therapy for HIV-positive patients
* No other concurrent investigational agents
* No other concurrent anticancer agents or therapies
* ECOG performance status 0-1
* Fertile patients must use effective contraception

Exclusion criteria:

* No other invasive malignancy within the past 5 years except curatively treated basal cell or squamous cell skin cancer or carcinoma in situ of the cervix
* No history of allergic reactions attributed to compounds of similar chemical or biological composition to tipifarnib or other study drugs (e.g., imidazoles or quinolones)
* No other uncontrolled illness including, but not limited to, any of the following: ongoing or active infection, symptomatic congestive heart failure, unstable angina pectoris, cardiac arrhythmia or psychiatric illness/social situations that would preclude study compliance
* Not pregnant or nursing