Safety and Efficacy Comparison of Docetaxel and Ixabepilone in Non Metastatic Poor Prognosis Breast Cancer

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: Inclusion criteria: * Histologically proven invasive unilateral breast cancer (regardless of the type) * Initial clinical condition compatible with complete initial resection * No residual macro or microscopic tumor after surgical excision * Node-positive disease (i.e., positive sentinel node or positive axillary clearance) (N+) or node-negative disease (-) meeting the following criteria : * Stage II or III disease * pT \>20 mm (T1-4) * Patients must meet 1 of the following hormone-receptor criteria: * Node-positive patients: triple-negative\* tumor (HER2 negative, estrogen-receptor \[ER\] negative, and progesterone receptor \[PR\] negative) OR double-negative (HER2 negative, PR negative, and ER+) * Node-negative patients: triple-negative\* tumor only * NOTE: \*Hormone-receptor negativity is defined as ER \<10% and PR \<10% by IHC and HER2 negativity is defined as IHC 0-1+ OR IHC 2+ and FISH or CISH negative * Must be able to begin chemotherapy no later than day 49 after the initial surgery Exclusion criteria: * Clinically or radiologically detectable metastases (M0) * Bilateral breast cancer or contralateral ductal carcinoma in situ * Any metastatic impairment, including homolateral subclavicular node involvement, regardless of its type * Any tumor ≥T4a (cutaneous invasion, deep adherence, inflammatory breast cancer) * HER 2 overexpression defined as IHC 3+ OR IHC 2+ and FISH or CISH positive * Any clinically or radiologically suspect and non-explored damage to the contralateral breast PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: Inclusion criteria: * Female * Pre- or postmenopausal * ECOG performance status 0-1 * Peripheral neuropathy ≤grade 1 * Neutrophil count ≥2,000/mm³ * Platelet count ≥100,000/mm³ * Hemoglobin \>9 g/dL * AST and ALT ≤1.5 times upper limit of normal (ULN) * Alkaline phosphatase ≤2.5 times ULN * Total bilirubin ≤1.0 times ULN * Serum creatinine ≤1.5 times ULN * LVEF ≥50% by MUGA scan or echocardiography * Not pregnant or nursing * Negative pregnancy test * Fertile patients must use effective contraception during and for up to 8 weeks after completion of study treatment Exclusion criteria: * Previous cancer (except cutaneous baso-cellular epithelioma or uterine peripheral epithelioma) in the preceding 5 years, including invasive contralateral breast cancer * Patients with any other concurrent severe and/or uncontrolled medical disease or infection that could compromise participation in the study * Clinically significant cardiovascular disease within the past 6 months including any of the following: * Unstable angina * Congestive heart failure * Uncontrolled hypertension (i.e., blood pressure \>150/90 mm Hg) * Myocardial infarction * Cerebral vascular accidents * Known prior severe hypersensitivity reactions to agents containing Cremophor EL * Patients with any psychological, familial, sociological, or geographical condition potentially hampering compliance with the study protocol and follow-up schedule * Patients deprived of liberty or placed under the authority of a tutor PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY: * At least 2 weeks since prior minor surgery (excluding breast biopsy) and adequately recovered * At least 3 weeks since prior major surgery and adequately recovered * No prior chemotherapy, hormonal therapy, or radiotherapy * More than 72 hours since prior and no concurrent treatment with any of the following strong inhibitors of CYP3A4: * Amiodarone * Clarithromycin * Amprenavir * Delavirdine * Voriconazole * Erythromycin * Fluconazole * Itraconazole * Ketoconazole * Indinavir * Nelfinavir * Ritonavir * Saquinavir * No concurrent participation in another therapeutic trial involving an experimental drug