Azacitidine in Treating Patients With Triple Negative Stage I-IV Invasive Breast Cancer That Can Be Removed By Surgery

Inclusion Criteria:

* Resectable tumor measuring 2 cm or more
* Histologically documented triple negative invasive breast cancer characterized by 0% Immunohistochemistry (IHC) nuclear staining for ER-alpha, 0% IHC nuclear staining for PR-alpha, and no amplification of HER2/neu by fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH); standard IHC assays for ER and PR use antibodies to ER-alpha and PR-alpha and PR-beta
* Southwest Oncology Group (SWOG) performance status of less than or equal to 1
* Absolute neutrophil count (ANC) \>= 1500/μL
* Hemoglobin (Hgb) \>= 9 g/dL
* Platelets \>= 100,000/uL
* Aspartate aminotransferase (AST)/serum glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase (SGOT) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT)/serum glutamic pyruvate transaminase (SGPT) =\< 2.5 x upper limit normal (ULN) or =\< 5.0 x ULN in patients with liver metastases
* Creatinine =\< 2.0 mg/dL Or Calculated Creatinine Clearance \>= 50 ml/min
* Albumin \>= 3 g/dL
* Potassium \>= lower limit normal (LLN)
* Phosphorous \>= LLN
* Calcium \>= LLN
* Magnesium \> LLN
* Women of childbearing potential must have a negative serum or urine pregnancy test performed within 7 days prior to start of treatment
* Accessible for treatment and follow-up
* Written informed consent prior to study entry

Exclusion Criteria:

* HER2/neu amplification by FISH
* Concurrent neoadjuvant treatment with chemotherapy, endocrine therapy, or radiotherapy
* Known hypersensitivity to azacitidine or mannitol
* Preexisting hepatic impairment or renal impairment
* Intent to receive additional neoadjuvant therapy prior to surgery
* Concurrent use of an histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitor or hydralazine
* Known diagnosis of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection
* Major surgery \< 4 weeks prior to starting study drug
* Pregnant or breastfeeding or female of reproductive potential not using an effective method of birth control
* Other concurrent severe, uncontrolled infection or intercurrent illness, including but not limited to ongoing or active infection or psychiatric illness/social situations that would limit compliance with study requirements
* Prior antiestrogens (selective estrogen receptor modulator \[SERM\] or aromatase inhibitors) within 6 months of study entry
* Underlying medical, psychiatric or social conditions that would preclude patient from receiving treatment