Inclusion Criteria

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: Histologically proven carcinoma of the breast with metastases No
CNS metastases Hormone receptor status: Not specified

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: Age: Not specified Menopausal status: Not specified Sex: Female
Performance status: Not specified Life expectancy: Not specified Hematopoietic: Not
specified Hepatic: Bilirubin no greater than 1.25 times upper limit of normal (ULN) SGOT
and SGPT no greater than 2 times ULN (no greater than 5 times ULN with liver metastases)
Renal: Not specified Cardiovascular: Ejection fraction within normal range No history of
cardiac disease including myocardial infarction, cardiac failure and angina Other: Not
pregnant No prior or concurrent malignancy that is likely to interfere with protocol
treatments or comparisons

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY: Biologic therapy: Not specified Chemotherapy: No prior
chemotherapy other than adjuvant No prior high dose adjuvant chemotherapy requiring
transplantation Cumulative dose of doxorubicin no greater than 300 mg/m2 permitted
Cumulative dose of epirubicin no greater than 400 mg/m2 permitted At least 6 months since
prior anthracyclines Endocrine therapy: Not specified Radiotherapy: Not specified Surgery:
Not specified