Ixabepilone in Treating Patients With Locally Advanced or Metastatic Breast Cancer

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: * Histologically confirmed\* adenocarcinoma of the breast * Incurable, locally advanced or metastatic disease * Primarily stage IV disease, but some inoperable stage III disease may be eligible (e.g., a patient with T4 and/or N2-3 disease who cannot receive doxorubicin or who has already received other therapy) NOTE: \*Patients with no available tissue for histologic confirmation but who have documentation of breast surgery and prior chemotherapy are eligible upon approval of the principal investigator * Measurable disease * No evidence of CNS metastases by brain MRI or contrast head CT scan * CNS metastases controlled by radiotherapy or surgical resection at least 6 months prior to study enrollment are allowed * Hormone receptor status: * Not specified PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: Age * 18 and over Sex * Female or male Menopausal status * Not specified Performance status * ECOG 0-2 Life expectancy * At least 3 months Hematopoietic * Granulocyte count at least 1,200/mm\^3 * Platelet count at least 100,000/mm\^3 Hepatic * Bilirubin no greater than 1.5 times upper limit of normal (ULN) (3 times ULN if there is clinical evidence of Gilbert's disease) * AST and ALT no greater than 2.5 times ULN Renal * Creatinine normal OR * Creatinine clearance greater than 40 mL/min Other * No poor medical risk due to other nonmalignant systemic disease * No active uncontrolled infection * No sensory, motor, or cranial neuropathy or neuropathic pain grade 2 or greater (unless neuropathy is clearly due to underlying breast cancer) * No other concurrent serious medical illness * No prior severe hypersensitivity reactions to agents containing Cremophor EL * Not pregnant or nursing * Negative pregnancy test * Fertile patients must use effective contraception during and for 2 months after study participation PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY: Biologic therapy * More than 4 weeks since prior filgrastim (G-CSF), pegfilgrastim, or thrombopoietin (or other platelet growth factors) * No concurrent immunotherapy Chemotherapy * More than 4 weeks since prior chemotherapy (6 weeks for nitrosoureas or mitomycin) * No other concurrent chemotherapy for breast cancer Endocrine therapy * More than 2 weeks since prior hormonal therapy * No concurrent hormonal therapy Radiotherapy * See Disease Characteristics * No prior craniospinal radiation * No prior total body irradiation * More than 4 weeks since prior radiotherapy Surgery * See Disease Characteristics Other * No other concurrent investigational drugs * No concurrent cytochrome p450 3A4 inhibitors, including any of the following: * Clarithromycin * Erythromycin * Troleandomycin * Delaviridine * Nelfinavir * Amprenavir * Ritonavir * Indinavir * Saquinavir * Lopinavir * Itraconazole * Ketoconazole * Fluconazole (\> 200 mg/day) * Voriconazole * Nefazodone * Fluvoxamine * Verapamil * Diltiazem * Amiodarone * Concurrent bisphosphonates for bone metastases allowed