Lapatinib Ditosylate and Radiation Therapy in Treating Patients With Locally Advanced or Locally Recurrent Breast Cancer

Inclusion Criteria: * Patients with histologically or cytologically confirmed locally advanced breast cancer that is refractory to chemotherapy or other therapeutic agents or with a history of breast cancer with new evidence of a local recurrence (defined as a chest wall or breast recurrence and/or nodal recurrence); the diagnosis will be made based on clinical and pathologic features * Patients must be \>18 years of age. * Karnofsky Performance Status (KPS) score \> 70 * Patts must have normal organ function as defined below: * total bilirubin \< 1.5 x institutional upper limit of normal * AST(SGOT)/ALT(SGPT) \< 2.5 x institutional upper limit of normal * creatinine \< 1.5 x institutional upper limit of normal * Patients must have left-ventricular ejection fraction \> 50% at baseline. Exclusion Criteria: * Patients who have contraindications to radiotherapy, such as scleroderma, dermatomyositis, or severe cutaneous manifestations of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) * History of allergic reactions attributed to compounds of similar chemical or biologic composition to lapatinib * Uncontrolled intercurrent illness including, but not limited to, ongoing or active infection, symptomatic congestive heart failure, or psychiatric illness/social situations that would limit compliance with study requirements * Women who are pregnant or lactating, as well as women of child-bearing potential who are unwilling or unable to use an acceptable method of birth control to avoid pregnancy for the duration of the study