Bendamustine and Erlotinib in Treating Patients With Stage IIIB, Stage IIIC, or Stage IV Breast Cancer

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: * Histologically confirmed breast cancer meeting 1 of the following criteria: * Unresectable stage IIIB or IIIC disease * Stage IV disease * Must be negative for all of the following: * Estrogen receptor (\< 10%) * Progesterone receptor (\<10%) * HER-2 (negative FISH, IHC 0 - 1+, or IHC +2 with negative FISH) * Measurable or evaluable disease * No symptomatic or progressive CNS (central nervous system) metastases * Previously treated CNS metastases allowed provided all of the following criteria are met: * At least 8 weeks since prior radiation to brain or CNS metastases * No concurrent steroids * No leptomeningeal disease PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: * Menopausal status not specified * ECOG (Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group) performance status 0-2 * Life expectancy ≥ 6 months * WBC \> 1,500/mm³ * Platelet count \> 100,000/mm³ * Creatinine clearance \> 40 mL/min * Normal electrolytes (i.e., Na, K, and Ca normal; minor deviations are allowed if they do not impact on patient safety in the clinical judgment of the treating physician) * Bilirubin ≤ 1.5 times upper limit of normal (ULN) * ALT and AST ≤ 2.5 times ULN (≤ 5 times ULN in the presence of documented liver metastases) * Alkaline phosphatase ≤ 2.5 times ULN (≤ 5 times ULN in the presence of liver or bone metastases) * Not pregnant or nursing * Fertile patients must use effective barrier contraception * No uncontrolled intercurrent illness * No active infection requiring systemic therapy * Able to swallow oral medications and with no medical problems or prior surgeries that may interfere with the absorption of oral medications including the following: * Uncontrolled nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea * Lack of the physical integrity of the upper gastrointestinal tract * Malabsorption syndrome * No known hypersensitivity to bendamustine hydrochloride, mannitol, or erlotinib hydrochloride * No prior malignancy in the past 5 years except for adequately treated basal cell or squamous cell skin carcinoma, or adequately treated stage I-II cancer for which the patient is in complete remission PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY: * See Disease Characteristics * Prior adjuvant or neoadjuvant chemotherapy and 1 prior chemotherapy regimen in the metastatic setting allowed provided recovered from all acute toxicities * No prior bendamustine hydrochloride or EGFR-directed therapy * No other concurrent antineoplastic treatments, including radiotherapy, chemotherapy, biological therapy, hormonal therapy, immunotherapy, gene therapy, and surgery * Intravenous bisphosphonates allowed * No concurrent antiretroviral therapy for HIV-positive patients * No other concurrent investigational agents