Inclusion Criteria

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

- Histologically confirmed stage IV breast cancer

- Metastasis to the ipsilateral supraclavicular lymph nodes allowed

- HER2-positive by fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) or immunohistochemistry 3+
staining confirmed in the adjuvant or metastatic setting

- No effusions or ascites as only sites of disease

- No primary or metastatic brain or central nervous system tumor

- Hormone receptor status:

- Not specified

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

Age:

- 18 and over

Sex:

- Female

Menopausal status:

- Not specified

Performance status:

- Zubrod 0-2

Life expectancy:

- Not specified

Hematopoietic:

- Absolute neutrophil count at least 1,500/mm^3

- Platelet count at least 100,000/mm^3

Hepatic:

- Bilirubin normal

- aspartate aminotransferase or Alanine aminotranferease no greater than 1.5 times
upper limit of normal (ULN)

- Alkaline phosphatase no greater than 2.5 times ULN

Renal:

- Not specified

Cardiovascular:

- left ventricular ejection fraction normal by multigated radionuclide angiography or
echocardiogram (patients who have received prior anthracycline therapy)

- No clinical evidence or history of cardiomyopathy

Other:

- No pre-existing grade 2 or greater motor or sensory peripheral neuropathy except
abnormalities due to cancer

- No prior severe hypersensitivity reaction to docetaxel or other drugs formulated with
Polysorbate 80

- No other malignancy within the past 5 years except adequately treated basal cell or
squamous cell skin cancer, carcinoma in situ of the cervix, or other adequately
treated stage I or II cancer currently in complete remission

- No known sensitivity to E. coli-derived proteins

- Not pregnant or nursing

- Negative pregnancy test

- Fertile patients must use effective contraception

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

Biologic therapy:

- Not specified

Chemotherapy:

- At least 6 months since prior chemotherapy

- Prior anthracycline as adjuvant therapy allowed

- No prior cumulative dose of doxorubicin more than 360 mg/m^2

- No prior cumulative dose of epirubicin more than 720 mg/m^2

- No more than 1 prior adjuvant or neoadjuvant chemotherapy regimen for primary disease

- No prior docetaxel

- No prior vinorelbine

- Prior paclitaxel allowed

Endocrine therapy:

- Prior hormonal therapy as adjuvant therapy or for metastatic breast cancer allowed

- No concurrent hormonal therapy

Radiotherapy:

- At least 3 weeks since prior radiotherapy

Surgery:

- At least 2 weeks since prior surgery and recovered