Sorafenib in Treating Patients With Metastatic Breast Cancer

Inclusion Criteria: * Histologically or cytologically confirmed breast cancer * Clinical evidence of metastatic disease * Measurable disease * HER2-positive or -negative disease * If HER2 gene amplified or strongly positive for HER2 by immunohistochemistry, patient must have had prior treatment containing trastuzumab (Herceptin®) unless contraindicated * Previously treated with anthracycline- and/or taxane-containing regimen in the neoadjuvant, adjuvant, or metastatic setting * Candidate for first- or second-line chemotherapy for metastatic disease * Core block or tumor slides of the primary or metastatic tumor available * No known brain metastases * Hormone receptor status: * Not specified * Male or female * Performance status - ECOG 0-1 * At least 3 months * WBC ≥ 3,000/mm\^3 * Absolute neutrophil count ≥ 1,500/mm\^3 * Platelet count ≥ 100,000/mm\^3 * Hemoglobin ≥ 8.5 g/dL * No evidence of bleeding diathesis * Bilirubin ≤ 1.5 times upper limit of normal (ULN) * AST ≤ 3 times ULN * Alkaline phosphatase ≤ 3 times ULN * PT normal * PTT normal * INR normal * Creatinine ≤ 1.5 times ULN * Calcium normal * No symptomatic congestive heart failure * No unstable angina pectoris * No cardiac arrhythmia * No uncontrolled hypertension * No gastrointestinal tract disease that would preclude taking oral medication * No active peptic ulcer disease * Not pregnant or nursing * Fertile patients must use effective contraception * No other malignancy within the past 5 years except adequately treated basal cell or squamous cell skin cancer * No history of allergic reaction attributed to compounds of similar chemical or biological composition to sorafenib or other study agents * No ongoing or active infection * No psychiatric illness or social situation that would preclude study participation * No other uncontrolled illness * See Disease Characteristics * More than 4 weeks since prior immunotherapy * No concurrent anticancer immunotherapy * No concurrent bevacizumab * See Disease Characteristics * More than 4 weeks since prior chemotherapy (6 weeks for nitrosoureas or mitomycin) and recovered * No more than 1 prior chemotherapy regimen for metastatic disease * No concurrent anticancer chemotherapy * Prior hormonal therapy in the neoadjuvant, adjuvant, or metastatic setting is allowed * No concurrent anticancer hormonal therapy * No prior radiotherapy to ≥ 25% of the bone marrow * More than 4 weeks since prior radiotherapy * More than 4 weeks since prior major surgery * No prior surgical procedure that would affect gastrointestinal absorption * No other concurrent drugs that target vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) or VEGF receptors * No concurrent antiretroviral therapy for HIV-positive patients * No other concurrent investigational agents * No other concurrent anticancer therapy * No concurrent cytochrome P450 enzyme-inducing antiepileptic drugs, including any of the following: * Phenytoin * Carbamazepine * Phenobarbital * No concurrent rifampin * No concurrent Hypericum perforatum (St. John's wort) * No concurrent therapeutic anticoagulation * Concurrent prophylactic anticoagulation (i.e., low-dose warfarin) for venous or arterial devices is allowed