Docetaxel, Carboplatin, Trastuzumab, and Lapatinib in Treating Patients With Early Stage Breast Cancer

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

* Histologically confirmed primary invasive adenocarcinoma of the breast fulfilling the following criteria:

  * Nonmetastatic disease
  * Operable and adequately excised

    * Patients with nonresectable deep margin invasion are eligible provided they have had or will receive radiotherapy to the region
    * Patients with histologically documented infiltration of the skin (pT4) are eligible provided they have undergone or will receive radiotherapy encompassing the tumor bed
  * Node-positive OR -negative and determined eligible to receive adjuvant trastuzumab (Herceptin®)
* No positive or suspicious internal mammary nodes by SNS that have not been or will not be irradiated
* No supraclavicular lymph node involvement (confirmed by fine needle aspiration or biopsy)
* Over expression and/or amplification of HER2 in the invasive component of the primary tumor, according to one of the following:

  * 3+ over-expression by IHC (\> 30% of invasive tumor cells)
  * 2+ or 3+ (in 30% or less neoplastic cells) over-expression by IHC AND in situ hybridization (FISH/CISH) test demonstrating HER2 gene amplification
  * HER2 gene amplification by FISH/CISH (\> 6 HER2 gene copies per nucleus, or a FISH ratio \[HER2 gene copies to chromosome 17 signals\] of \> 2.2.)

    * Negative or equivocal overall result (FISH test ratio of \< 2.2, \< 6.0 HER2-gene copies per nucleus) and staining scores of 0, 1+, 2+, or 3+ (in 30% or less neoplastic cells) by IHC not allowed
* Hormone receptor status known (estrogen receptor with or without progesterone receptor)

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

* Menopausal status not specified
* ECOG performance status 0-1
* Hemoglobin ≥ 10.0 g/dL
* ANC ≥ 1,500/mm\^3
* Platelet count ≥ 100,000/mm\^3
* Serum creatinine ≤ 2.0 times upper limit of normal (ULN)
* AST and ALT ≤ 2.5 times ULN
* Alkaline phosphatase ≤ 2.5 times ULN
* Bilirubin ≤ 1.5 times ULN (≤ 2.0 times ULN if known Gilbert syndrome)
* Baseline LVEF ≥ 50% measured by ECHO or MUGA scan
* Not pregnant or nursing
* Negative pregnancy test
* Fertile patients must use effective contraception
* No serious cardiac illness or medical condition including, but not limited to, any of the following:

  * History of documented congestive heart failure (any NYHA class) or systolic dysfunction (LVEF \< 50%)
  * High-risk uncontrolled arrhythmias (e.g., ventricular tachycardia, high-grade atrioventricular-block \[second degree or higher\], or supraventricular arrhythmias that are not adequately rate-controlled)
  * Angina pectoris requiring antianginal medication
  * Clinically significant valvular heart disease
  * Evidence of transmural infarction on ECG
  * Poorly controlled hypertension (any reading of systolic BP \> 180 mm Hg or diastolic BP \> 100 mm Hg)
* No other concurrent serious diseases that may interfere with planned treatment including severe pulmonary conditions or illness
* None of the following:

  * Ulcerative colitis
  * Malabsorption syndrome
  * Any disease significantly affecting gastrointestinal function
  * Inability to swallow oral medication

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

* See Disease Characteristics
* No prior mediastinal irradiation except internal mammary-node irradiation for the present breast cancer
* No prior anti-HER2 therapy for any reason
* No prior biologic or immunotherapy for breast cancer
* No prior resection of the stomach or small bowel
* No other concurrent anticancer therapy including chemotherapeutic agents, biologic agents, or radiotherapy
* No concurrent anticancer treatment in another investigational trial with hormone therapy or immunotherapy unless approved by the study chair
* No concurrent CYP3A4 inhibitors or inducers
* No concurrent epoetin alfa, including darbepoetin alfa
* No concurrent oprelvekin