Lonafarnib, Trastuzumab, and Paclitaxel in Treating Patients With HER2/Neu-Overexpressing Stage IIIB, Stage IIIC, or Stage IV Breast Cancer

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: * Histologically or cytologically confirmed breast cancer * Stage IIIB, IIIC, or IV * HER2/neu overexpression * 3+ by immunohistochemistry * 2+ allowed if positive fluorescent in situ hybridization * Disease meets the following treatment criteria: * Paclitaxel/trastuzumab (Herceptin®) may be appropriate therapy * Anthracycline therapy is not a suitable approach * No clinical signs of CNS involvement * Hormone receptor status: * Not specified PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: Age * 18 and over Sex * Male or female Menopausal status * Not specified Performance status * ECOG 0-2 OR * WHO 0-2 Life expectancy * Not specified Hematopoietic * Neutrophil count at least 1,500/mm\^3 * Platelet count at least 100,000/mm\^3 * Hemoglobin at least 10.0 g/dL (6.2 mmol/L) Hepatic * Bilirubin no greater than 1.5 times upper limit of normal (ULN) * Alkaline phosphatase less than 2.5 times ULN (5 times ULN if liver metastases are present) * AST and ALT less than 2.5 times ULN (5 times ULN if liver metastases are present) Renal * Creatinine clearance at least 40 mL/min Cardiovascular * Cardiac ejection fraction normal by MUGA * QTc interval no greater than 440 msec * No cardiac dysfunction Other * Not pregnant or nursing * Negative pregnancy test * Fertile patients must use effective contraception during and for up to 3 months after study participation * No concurrent severe/unstable systemic disease * No infection * No circumstances that would preclude study participation (e.g., alcoholism or substance abuse) * No psychological, familial, sociological, or geographical condition that would preclude study compliance and follow-up PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY: Biologic therapy * More than 1 year since prior trastuzumab * No concurrent prophylactic growth factors Chemotherapy * More than 1 year since prior paclitaxel * More than 4 weeks since other prior chemotherapy Endocrine therapy * More than 1 day since prior hormonal therapy * More than 2 days since prior high-dose chronic steroids * More than 2 days since prior ethinyl estradiol * No concurrent high-dose chronic steroids * No concurrent ethinyl estradiol Radiotherapy * More than 4 weeks since prior radiotherapy Surgery * Not specified Other * More than 2 days since prior administration of and no concurrent CYP3A4 inducers or inhibitors, including any of the following: * Gestodene * Itraconazole * Ketoconazole * Cimetidine * Erythromycin * Carbamazepine * Phenobarbital * Phenytoin * Rifampin * Sulfinpyrazone * No concurrent grapefruit juice * No other concurrent anticancer agents * No other concurrent investigational therapy