Vaccine Therapy Plus Sargramostim and Chemotherapy in Treating Women With Stage II or Stage III Breast Cancer

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: * Histologically confirmed adenocarcinoma of the breast * Stage II or III * At least 4 positive lymph nodes * No inflammatory ductal carcinoma * No positive lymph nodes by immunohistochemistry only * Carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) expression, as indicated by 1 of the following: * At least 30% of tumor stains for CEA on immunohistochemistry * Elevated serum CEA (greater than 5 ng/mL) anytime during disease course * Must be HLA-A2 positive * Must have received prior vaccinia for smallpox immunization with 1 of the following as evidence: * If age 25 and under, physician certification of prior vaccination * If over age 25, patient recollection and vaccination-site scar * Any age, detectable anti-vaccinia antibodies * No metastases by CT scan of chest, abdomen, and pelvis and a bone scan * Hormone receptor status: * Estrogen receptor status and progesterone receptor status known PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: Age * 18 and over Sex * Female Menopausal status: * Not specified Performance status * ECOG 0-1 Life expectancy * Not specified Hematopoietic * WBC at least 3,000/mm\^3 * Absolute neutrophil count at least 1,500/mm\^3 * Platelet count at least 100,000/mm\^3 Hepatic * Bilirubin no greater than 1.5 times upper limit of normal (ULN) * SGOT and SGPT no greater than 1.5 times ULN * Hepatitis B and C negative Renal * Creatinine no greater than 1.5 mg/dL OR * Creatinine clearance greater than 60 mL/min * No proteinuria OR * Protein less than 1,000 mg per 24-hour urine collection * No hematuria * No abnormal sediment Cardiovascular * LVEF at least 45% by echocardiogram or MUGA if either of the following are true: * History of cardiac disease * Received prior cardiotoxic chemotherapy Immunologic * No evidence of immunocompromised status * No autoimmune disease such as any of the following: * Autoimmune neutropenia, thrombocytopenia, or hemolytic anemia * Systemic lupus erythematosus * Sjogren's syndrome * Scleroderma * Myasthenia gravis * Goodpasture syndrome * Addison's disease * Hashimoto's thyroiditis * Active Graves' disease * No active or prior eczema or other eczematoid skin disorders * No other acute, chronic, or exfoliative skin conditions (e.g., atopic dermatitis, burns, impetigo, varicella zoster, severe acne, or other open rashes or wounds) * HIV negative * No active infection within the past 3 days * No allergy to eggs * No history of allergy or untoward reaction to prior vaccination with vaccinia virus Other * Not pregnant or nursing * Negative pregnancy test * Fertile patients must use effective contraception * No other serious illness * No other malignancy within the past 3 years except squamous cell or basal cell skin cancer * No history of seizures, encephalitis, or multiple sclerosis * No active inflammatory bowel disease * Must be able to avoid close household contact with the following during and for 2 weeks after vaccinations: * Persons with active or prior eczema or other eczematoid skin disorders * Persons with any other acute, chronic, or exfoliative skin conditions (e.g., atopic dermatitis, burns, impetigo, varicella zoster, severe acne, or other open rashes or wounds) * Pregnant or nursing women * Children under 5 years old * Immunodeficient or immunosuppressed persons (by disease or therapy), including those with HIV infection PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY: Biologic therapy * See Disease Characteristics Chemotherapy * No prior doxorubicin, cyclophosphamide, or paclitaxel Endocrine therapy * No concurrent steroids except the following: * Topical steroids * Inhaled steroids for moderate asthma * Dexamethasone prior to taxanes Radiotherapy * No prior radiotherapy to more than 50% of the lymph nodes Surgery * At least 2 weeks since prior surgery and recovered * No prior splenectomy Other * No other concurrent anti-tumor therapies