DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

• Histologically proven unresectable locally advanced or metastatic breast cancer

  • Refractory or relapsed disease after neoadjuvant or adjuvant anthracyclines
• At least one bidimensionally measurable lesion
• No brain metastasis
• No bone metastases, lymphangitis carcinomatous, ascites, or pleural effusion as sole site of metastatic disease

• Hormone receptor status:

  • Known hormone receptor status

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

Age:

• 18 to 75

Sex:

• Female

Menopausal status:

• Not specified

Performance status:

• ECOG 0-2 OR
• Karnofsky 60-100%

Life expectancy:

• At least 12 weeks

Hematopoietic:

• Absolute neutrophil count at least 1,500/mm^3
• Platelet count at least 100,000/mm^3

Hepatic:

• AST and ALT no greater than 2.5 times upper limit of normal (ULN)
• Alkaline phosphatase no greater than 2.5 times ULN
• Bilirubin normal

Renal:

• Creatinine no greater than 1.5 times ULN

Cardiovascular:

• No uncontrolled angina or arrhythmia
• No myocardial infarction within the past 6 months
• No New York Heart Association class III or IV heart disease

Other:

• No sensitive neuropathy worse than grade 2
• No other significant, uncontrolled medical or psychiatric condition
• No serious active infection
• Not pregnant or nursing
• Fertile patients must use effective contraception
• No other prior malignancy except treated nonmelanomatous skin cancer or carcinoma in situ of the cervix

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

Biologic therapy:

• At least 4 weeks since prior specific antitumoral immunotherapy

Chemotherapy:

• See Disease Characteristics
• No prior taxanes
• At least 4 weeks since other prior specific antitumoral chemotherapy

Endocrine therapy:

• At least 4 weeks since prior specific antitumoral hormonal therapy

Radiotherapy:

• At least 4 weeks since prior specific antitumoral radiotherapy

Surgery:

• Not specified

Other:

• No other concurrent experimental medication