DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

• Histologically confirmed invasive adenocarcinoma of the breast

  • Primary breast tumor must be palpable and measure ≥ 2.0 cm on physical exam
  • No stage T4 disease

  • No ipsilateral cN2b or cN3 disease

    • cN1 or cN2a disease allowed
  • Histology confirmed by core-needle biopsy

• No prior surgical axillary staging procedure

  • Fine-needle aspiration or core biopsy of an axillary node allowed
  • Pre-neoadjuvant therapy sentinel lymph node biopsy allowed if axillary nodes clinically negative
• HER2-negative disease by immunohistochemistry (< 3+) or by fluorescent in situ hybridization (negative for gene amplification)
• No prior excisional or incisional biopsy for primary breast tumor
• No synchronous bilateral breast cancer (invasive or ductal carcinoma in situ [DCIS])

• No prior breast cancer, including DCIS

  • Prior lobular carcinoma in situ allowed
• No clinical or radiologic evidence of metastatic disease
• Hormone receptor status known

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

• Female
• Menopausal status not specified
• ECOG performance status 0-1
• Not pregnant or nursing
• Negative pregnancy test
• LVEF ≥ the lower limit of normal or ≥ 50% by MUGA or echocardiogram within the past 3 months
• Absolute neutrophil count ≥ 1,200/mm³
• Platelet count ≥ 100,000/mm³
• Hemoglobin ≥ 10 g/dL
• Alkaline phosphatase ≤ 2.5 times upper limit of normal (ULN)

• AST ≤ 1.5 times ULN

  • Alkaline phosphatase and AST must not both be > ULN
  • Patients with either skeletal pain or alkaline phosphatase that is > ULN but ≤ 2.5 times ULN are allowed if bone scans do not demonstrate metastatic disease
  • AST or alkaline phosphatase > ULN allowed if liver imaging does not demonstrate metastatic disease
• Bilirubin normal (≤ 1.5 times ULN for Gilbert's disease or similar syndrome)
• Serum creatinine ≤ ULN
• Creatinine clearance > 50 mL/min
• Urine protein:urine creatinine ratio < 1.0
• Able to swallow oral medications
• No other malignancies except carcinoma in situ of the cervix or colon, melanoma in situ, or basal cell or squamous cell carcinoma of the skin, unless the patient is considered to be disease-free for the past 5 years and at low-risk for recurrence

• No cardiovascular-related condition that would preclude the use of anthracyclines, including any of the following:

  • Angina pectoris that requires the use of antianginal medication
  • History of documented congestive heart failure
  • Serious cardiac arrhythmia requiring medication
  • Severe conduction abnormality
  • Valvular disease with documented cardiac function compromise

  • Uncontrolled hypertension, defined as blood pressure > 150/90 mm Hg on antihypertensive therapy

    • Hypertension well controlled with medication allowed
• No history of myocardial infarction documented by elevated cardiac enzymes or persistent regional wall abnormalities on assessment of left ventricular function
• No history of transient ischemic attack or cerebrovascular accident
• No arterial thrombotic event within the past 12 months
• No symptomatic peripheral vascular disease
• No significant nontraumatic bleeding within the past 6 months
• No significant traumatic injury within the past 28 days
• No serious or nonhealing wound, skin ulcers, or incompletely healed bone fracture
• No active (by endoscopy) gastroduodenal ulcer(s)

• No known bleeding diathesis or coagulopathy

  • Patients on warfarin with an in-range INR (between 2 and 3) allowed
• No sensory or motor neuropathy ≥ grade 2
• No conditions that would prohibit administration of corticosteroids
• No history of severe hypersensitivity reaction to drugs formulated with polysorbate 80
• No other nonmalignant systemic disease that would preclude study treatment or prevent required follow-up

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

• See Disease Characteristics
• No prior radiation therapy, chemotherapy, biologic therapy, and/or hormonal therapy for the currently diagnosed breast cancer
• No prior anthracyclines, taxanes, capecitabine, fluorouracil, gemcitabine hydrochloride, or bevacizumab for any malignancy
• No investigational agents within the past 30 days

• No major surgical procedure or open biopsy within the past 28 days

  • Placement of a vascular access device is not considered a major surgical procedure
• No concurrent sex hormone therapy (e.g., birth control pills, ovarian hormone replacement therapy)
• No concurrent hormonal agent, such as raloxifene, tamoxifen, or other selective estrogen-receptor modulator (SERM), either for osteoporosis or breast cancer prevention
• No major surgical procedures (other than the required breast surgery) during the course of the study
• No other concurrent anticancer therapy
• No concurrent partial breast radiation therapy and brachytherapy
• No concurrent participation in other clinical trials employing an investigational agent