Suramin and Paclitaxel in Treating Women With Stage IIIB-IV Breast Cancer

Inclusion Criteria: * Patients must have histologically or cytologically confirmed stage IIIB or IV metastatic breast cancer (MBC) * Prior chemotherapy: * Phase I: patients must have received prior paclitaxel or other taxanes in either the adjuvant or metastatic setting; prior chemotherapy, radiation or surgery must be completed at least 21 days before study entry; prior treatment with anthracyclines is not required * Phase II: up to two prior chemotherapy regimens for stage IIIB or IV MBC; patients must have received prior paclitaxel or other taxanes in either the adjuvant or metastatic setting; prior chemotherapy, radiation or surgery must be completed at least 21 days before study entry; prior treatment with anthracyclines is not required * Measurable disease (phase II) * No known brain metastases * Hormone receptor status: * Not specified * Performance status - Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) 0-2 * White blood cell (WBC) at least 3,000/mm\^3 * Absolute neutrophil count at least 1,000/mm\^3 * Platelet count at least 100,000/mm\^3 * Hemoglobin at least 9.0 g/dL * Bilirubin no greater than 1.5 mg/dL * Aspartate aminotransferase (AST)/alanine aminotransferase (ALT) no greater than 2.5 times upper limit of normal * Creatinine no greater than 1.5 mg/dL * Left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) at least lower limit of normal * No symptomatic congestive heart failure * No unstable angina pectoris * No cardiac arrhythmia * Not pregnant or nursing * Negative pregnancy test * Fertile patients must use effective contraception * No history of allergic reactions attributable to compounds of similar chemical or biological composition to Cremophor * No concurrent uncontrolled illness that would preclude study compliance * No ongoing or active infection * No uncontrolled diabetes mellitus * No psychiatric illness or social situations that would preclude study compliance * No other malignancy within the past 5 years except basal cell or squamous cell skin cancer or carcinoma in situ of the cervix * See Disease Characteristics * At least 3 weeks since prior chemotherapy (6 weeks for nitrosoureas or mitomycin) and recovered * No more than 2 prior chemotherapy regimens for this malignancy (phase II) * No concurrent steroids or hormones except the following: * Steroids to prevent hypersensitivity reactions prior to paclitaxel administration * Hormones for nondisease-related conditions (e.g., insulin for diabetes) * At least 3 weeks since prior radiotherapy and recovered * At least 3 weeks since prior surgery and recovered * No concurrent combination antiretroviral therapy for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-positive patients * No other concurrent investigational agents * Concurrent bisphosphonates (i.e., pamidronate or zoledronate) are allowed for the treatment of hypercalcemia or palliation of skeletal metastases