Sorafenib and Paclitaxel in Treating Patients With Metastatic Breast Cancer

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: Inclusion criteria: * Histologically\* confirmed breast cancer * Stage IV (metastatic) disease * Radiographic evidence of metastases NOTE: \*Histological confirmation of the actual metastasis is not required. * Measurable disease by RECIST criteria defined as ≥ 1 unidimensionally measurable lesion ≥ 20 mm by conventional techniques (i.e., physical examination, CT scan, MRI, or x-ray) or ≥ 10 mm by spiral CT scan * No prior radiotherapy unless growth has been documented following radiotherapy * Primary tumor or metastatic tumor HER2-negative, defined as the following: * Immunohistochemistry of 0 or 1+ OR the equivalent, if an automated quantitative assay is used * HER2 fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH) assay negative as defined by a HER2:chromosome 17 centromeric probe ratio \< 1.8 (or \< 2.2 if immunohistochemistry is less than 3+ or equivalent) OR equivalent values for negative FISH assays that do not normalize to chromosome 17 * Hormone-receptor positive (estrogen receptor-\[ER\] or progesterone receptor \[PgR\]-positive) disease or hormone receptor-negative (ER- or PgR-negative) disease * Tumor block from initial breast cancer primary or a biopsy of a metastatic site must be available for correlative studies * Brain metastases allowed provided the patient is stable after completion of treatment (i.e., surgery and/or radiotherapy), asymptomatic, and off steroids with 2 consecutive stable brain scans at least 4 weeks after radiotherapy Exclusion criteria: * Bone-only or other nonmeasurable-only disease * Newly diagnosed brain metastases PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: Inclusion criteria: * ECOG performance status 0-1 * Life expectancy \> 6 months * Menopausal status not specified * WBC ≥ 3,000/mcL * Absolute neutrophil count ≥ 1,500/mcL * Platelets ≥ 100,000/mcL * Total bilirubin \< 1.5 times upper limit of normal (ULN) * AST and ALT transaminases ≤ 2.5 times ULN (\< 5 times ULN if liver involvement) * Creatinine \< 1.5 times ULN OR creatinine clearance \> 60 mL/min * INR \< 1.5 OR PT/PTT normal * Not pregnant or nursing * Negative pregnancy test * Fertile patients must use effective contraception prior to and during (women and men) and for at least 3 months after (men) study therapy * Able to swallow and absorb oral medications Exclusion criteria: * Active or uncontrolled medical illness (e.g., active infection \> CTCAE grade 2), including any of the following: * HIV or chronic hepatitis B or C * Uncontrolled diabetes * NYHA class II-IV uncompensated congestive heart failure * Unstable angina (anginal symptoms at rest) * New onset angina (i.e., began within the past 3 months) * Coronary artery disease * Myocardial infarction within the past 6 months * Cardiac ventricular arrhythmias requiring anti-arrhythmic therapy * Evidence of bleeding diathesis or coagulopathy * Pulmonary hemorrhage/bleeding event \> CTCAE grade 2 within 4 weeks of first dose of study drug * Any other hemorrhage/bleeding event \> CTCAE grade 3 within 4 weeks of first study drug * Thrombotic or embolic events (i.e., cerebrovascular accident), including transient ischemic attacks within the past 6 months * Hypertension that cannot be controlled with medication to ≤ 150/90 mm Hg * History of allergic reactions attributed to compounds of similar chemical or biologic composition to sorafenib tosylate * Prior invasive cancer other than breast cancer except nonmelanoma skin cancer * Chronic nonhealing wound or ulcer PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY: * No more than 1 prior chemotherapy regimen for metastatic breast cancer (MBC) * At least 3 weeks since prior hormonal therapy for MBC or adjuvant or neoadjuvant chemotherapy * More than 1 year since adjuvant paclitaxel * At least 4 weeks since major thoracic, abdominal, or pelvic surgery and recovered * At least 3 weeks since prior and no concurrent investigational drugs * Concurrent bisphosphonates allowed * Concurrent anticoagulation agents (i.e., warfarin or heparin) allowed * No anticipated need for or concurrent radiotherapy * No concurrent Hypericum perforatum (St. John wort) or rifampin (rifampicin) * No other concurrent anti-neoplastic drugs