Lapatinib and Doxorubicin Hydrochloride Liposome in Treating Patients With Metastatic Breast Cancer

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: * Histologically confirmed adenocarcinoma of the breast with evidence of metastatic disease * Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) and/or erbB2 positivity not required * Measurable disease, defined as ≥ 1 lesion that can be accurately measured in ≥ 1 dimension as ≥ 20 mm by conventional techniques OR as ≥ 10 mm by spiral CT scan * No known brain metastases or leptomeningeal disease * Hormone receptor status not specified PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: * Male or female patients * Menopausal status not specified * Life expectancy ≥ 12 weeks * ECOG performance status 0-1 * WBC ≥ 3,000/mm\^3 * Absolute neutrophil count ≥ 1,500/mm\^3 * Platelet count ≥ 100,000/mm\^3 * Bilirubin normal * AST/ALT ≤ 2.5 times upper limit of normal * Creatinine normal OR creatinine clearance ≥ 60 mL/min * LVEF ≥ 50% * Not pregnant or nursing * Negative pregnancy test * Fertile patients must use effective contraception * Able to swallow and retain oral medication * No history of allergic reactions attributed to compounds of similar chemical or biologic composition to lapatinib * No gastrointestinal (GI) tract disease resulting in inability to take oral medication * No malabsorption syndrome or requirement for IV alimentation * No uncontrolled inflammatory GI disease (e.g., Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis) PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY: * Prior trastuzumab (Herceptin ®) allowed * Prior anthracyclines allowed provided total dose of doxorubicin hydrochloride ≤ 240 mg/m² or epirubicin ≤ 600 mg/m² * More than 4 weeks since prior major surgery, hormonal therapy (other than replacement therapy), chemotherapy (6 weeks for nitrosoureas or mitomycin C), or radiotherapy and recovered * No prior surgical procedures affecting absorption * No prior EGFR-targeting therapies * At least 7 days since prior and no concurrent CYP3A4 inhibitors * At least 7 days since prior and no concurrent gastric pH modifiers * Antacids allowed within 1 hour before and after lapatinib dosing * At least 14 days since prior and no concurrent CYP3A4 inducers, including dexamethasone or dexamethasone equivalent dose \> 1.5 mg/day * At least 6 months since prior and no concurrent amiodarone * No concurrent combination antiretroviral therapy for HIV-positive patients * No concurrent prophylactic growth factor support * No concurrent herbal medications * No other concurrent investigational agents or anticancer therapy