Inclusion Criteria

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

- Histologically or cytologically confirmed adenocarcinoma of the breast, meeting 1 of
the following criteria:

- Locally advanced disease

- Documented metastatic disease without overexpression of Her2/neu

- Must have received prior anthracycline-containing regimen as neoadjuvant,
adjuvant, or first-line chemotherapy for metastatic breast cancer

- Loco-regional recurrence not amenable to treatment by surgery or radiotherapy

- At least one measurable lesion according to RECIST criteria

- No bone lesion only disease

- Must be a candidate for taxane-based chemotherapy

- HER2-negative disease

- No symptomatic brain metastases

- Hormone receptor status not specified

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

- Menopausal status not specified

- WHO performance status 0-2

- Life expectancy ≥ 3 months

- ANC ≥ 2,000/mm³

- Platelet count ≥ 100,000/mm³

- Hemoglobin ≥ 10 g/dL

- Serum creatinine < 140 µmol/L OR creatinine clearance > 60 mL/min

- Total bilirubin ≤ upper limit of normal (ULN)

- AST and ALT ≤ 1.5 times ULN

- Alkaline phosphatase ≤ 2.5 times ULN

- Not pregnant or nursing

- Fertile patients must use effective contraception

- No history of significant neurologic (i.e., peripheral neuropathy ≥ grade 2) or
psychiatric disorders, including psychotic disorders, dementia, or seizures that
would prohibit the understanding, observance, and giving of informed consent

- No other prior or concomitant malignancies except adequately treated carcinoma in
situ of the cervix uteri, basal cell or squamous cell carcinoma of the skin, or other
cancer curatively treated with surgery and/or radiotherapy

- No concurrent severe and/or uncontrolled co-morbid medical condition

- No medically unstable patients

- No uncontrolled infection

- No autoimmune disease and/or chronic active inflammation

- No psychological, familial, social, or geographical reasons that would make clinical
follow-up impossible

- No malabsorption syndrome or disease significantly affecting gastrointestinal
function

- No dysphagia ≥ grade 2

- No history of hypersensitivity to taxanes or known excipients, including polysorbate
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PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

- See Disease Characteristics

- No prior major resection of the stomach or proximal small bowel

- Prior hormonal therapy as adjuvant treatment and/or treatment of metastatic disease
allowed provided that the patient has progressive disease at study entry

- Hormonal treatment must be discontinued prior to study entry

- No more than 1 prior chemotherapy regimen for metastatic disease

- More than 30 days since prior investigational drug

- More than 3 weeks since prior NSAIDs or COX_2 inhibitors

- No other concurrent anticancer therapy

- No other concurrent dietary phytonutrients