Combination Chemotherapy in Treating Women With Breast Cancer That is Metastatic or Cannot be Treated With Surgery

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: * Histologically confirmed breast cancer * Metastatic or unresectable local disease * Measurable or evaluable disease * No ascites or pleural effusion as only metastatic site * No brain or leptomeningeal metastases * Hormone receptor status: * Not specified PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: Age: * 18 and over Sex: * Female Menopausal status: * Not specified Performance status: * 0-2 Life expectancy: * At least 3 months Hematopoietic: * Granulocyte count greater than 1,500/mm3 * Platelet count greater than 100,000/mm3 Hepatic: * Bilirubin normal * SGOT/SGPT less than 1.5 times upper limit of normal (ULN) * Alkaline phosphatase less than 2.5 times ULN Renal: * Creatinine no greater than 2 times ULN Cardiovascular: * Adequate cardiac function * No history of significant atherosclerotic coronary disease (e.g., uncontrolled angina) * No history of significant cardiac arrhythmia Other: * No serious medical or psychiatric illness that would preclude study * No active uncontrolled bacterial, viral, or fungal infection * Not pregnant or nursing * Negative pregnancy test * Fertile patients must use effective contraception PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY: Biologic therapy: * No prior high-dose chemotherapy and autologous transplantation Chemotherapy: * At least 3 weeks since prior chemotherapy and recovered * No more than 2 prior chemotherapy regimens for metastatic breast cancer (in addition to adjuvant therapy) * No prior docetaxel * No prior high-dose chemotherapy and autologous transplantation * Prior paclitaxel allowed Endocrine therapy: * No concurrent hormonal therapy, except as contraception Radiotherapy: * At least 3 weeks since prior radiotherapy and recovered * Concurrent radiotherapy for relief of localized pain or obstruction allowed Surgery: * At least 2 weeks since prior major surgery and recovered Other: * No other concurrent cytotoxic agents