CP-751871 In Treating Women With Early-Stage Breast Cancer That Can Be Removed By Surgery

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

* Histologically confirmed early operable adenocarcinoma of the breast
* No evidence of invasive lobular breast disease
* Measurable disease, defined as at least 1 lesion ≥ 2 cm by MRI
* Measurable levels of total choline according to institutional criteria by magnetic resonance spectroscopy
* Must have available or scheduled core breast biopsy procedure
* Hormone receptor status not specified

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

* Menopausal status not specified
* ECOG performance status 0-1
* Platelet count ≥ 100,000/mm\^³
* Neutrophil count ≥ 1,500/mm³
* Creatinine \< 1.5 times upper limit of normal (ULN)
* Bilirubin \< 1.5 times ULN
* ALT and AST \< 2.5 times ULN
* Fertile patients must use adequate barrier method contraception during and for at least 150 days after completion of study treatment
* Ability to comply with scheduled visits, treatment plan, laboratory tests, and other trial procedures
* No known hypersensitivity to monoclonal antibodies
* No prior or active malignancies other than curatively treated in situ carcinoma of the cervix, uterus, or basal cell or squamous cell carcinoma of the skin
* No serious uncontrolled medical disorder or active infection that would impair the ability to receive study treatment
* No significant active cardiac disease including any of the following:

  * Uncontrolled high blood pressure (i.e., systolic blood pressure \[BP\] \> 160 mm Hg and diastolic BP \> 95 mm Hg)
  * Unstable angina
  * Deep venous thrombosis
  * Pulmonary embolism
  * Cerebrovascular attack
  * Valvular disease
  * Congestive heart failure
  * Myocardial infarction with the past 6 months
  * Serious cardiac arrhythmias
* No dementia or significantly altered mental status that would limit the understanding or rendering of informed consent and compliance with study requirements

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

* More than 4 weeks since prior surgery and recovered
* More than 2 weeks since high-dose corticosteroid therapy (i.e., ≥ 100 mg prednisone per day or \> 40 mg dexamethasone per day)
* No prior anti-IGF-1R based investigational therapy
* No prior systemic therapy for primary disease
* No concurrent chronic systemic high-dose immunosuppressive steroid therapy

  * Low-dose steroids for nausea and vomiting control allowed
  * Topical corticosteroid applications, inhaled sprays, eye drops or local injections (e.g., intraocular) allowed
* No concurrent other anticancer drugs or therapy