Paclitaxel Albumin-Stabilized Nanoparticle Formulation in Treating Patients of Different Ages With Metastatic Breast Cancer

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

Inclusion criteria:

* Diagnosis of metastatic breast cancer
* Any estrogen receptor, progesterone receptor, or HER-2/neu status allowed as long as the patient will receive paclitaxel albumin-stabilized nanoparticle formulation alone
* First- or second-line chemotherapy treatment for metastatic disease planned

Exclusion criteria:

* Untreated CNS metastases or symptomatic CNS metastases requiring escalating doses of corticosteroids

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

* Karnofsky performance status 70-100%
* WBC ≥ 3,000/mm³
* ANC ≥ 1,500/mm³
* Platelet count ≥ 100,000/mm³
* Hemoglobin ≥ 9.0 g/dL
* AST and ALT ≤ 2.5 times upper limit of normal (ULN)
* Alkaline phosphatase ≤ 2.5 times ULN (unless bone metastases are present in the absence of liver metastases)
* Bilirubin ≤ 1.5 mg/dL
* Peripheral neuropathy ≤ grade 1
* Creatinine clearance ≥ 30 mL/min (calculated or 24-hour)
* Negative pregnancy test
* Fertile patients must use effective contraception
* Not pregnant or nursing
* No known history of allergic reactions to paclitaxel
* No serious or uncontrolled infection
* Ability to understand and the willingness to sign a written informed consent document

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

* See Disease Characteristics
* No ≥ grade 2 toxicity from prior therapy (other than alopecia)
* No taxane for adjuvant therapy or metastatic disease within the past 12 months
* No other concurrent investigational agents
* No other concurrent anticancer therapy