Combination Chemotherapy in Treating Older Women With Metastatic Breast Cancer

You may be eligible if

• DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:
• Histologically confirmed metastatic adenocarcinoma of the breast
• Bidimensionally measurable or evaluable disease
• * At least one non-irradiated lesion that is at least 2 cm in the greater diameter OR
• * Serous drainage, cutaneous metastasis, osseous metastasis, etc.
• No symptomatic cerebral metastasis
• Hormone receptor status:
• * Not specified
• PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:
• Age:
• 75 to 90
• Sex:
• Female
• Menopausal status:
• Postmenopausal
• Performance status:
• WHO 0-2
• Life expectancy:
• At least 3 months
• Hematopoietic:
• Platelet count at least 100,000/mm\^3
• Absolute neutrophil count at least 1,500/mm\^3
• Hepatic:
• Alkaline phosphatase less than 3 times normal
• Bilirubin less than 1.5 times normal
• Transaminases less than 3 times normal
• Total protein greater than 60%
• Albumin greater than 30 g/L
• Renal:
• Creatinine clearance greater than 60 mL/min
• Cardiovascular:
• LVEF greater than 50% by echocardiogram or scintigraph
• ECG normal
• No uncontrolled angina
• No myocardial infarction within past 6 months
• Other:
• No other medical illness or condition that would preclude study
• No other prior malignancy except basal cell skin cancer or curatively treated carcinoma in situ of the cervix
• No psychological, social, familial, or geographical reasons that would preclude study
• PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:
• Biologic therapy:
• Not specified
• Chemotherapy:
• Prior adjuvant chemotherapy allowed
• No prior adjuvant anthracyclines
• No prior chemotherapy for metastatic disease
• Endocrine therapy:
• One or two prior regimens of hormonal therapy allowed for metastatic disease
• Radiotherapy:
• No prior radiotherapy for metastatic disease
• Surgery:
• Not specified
• Other:
• No concurrent participation in another study