Breast-Conserving Therapy Compared With Mastectomy Followed By Radiation Therapy in Treating Women With Locally Advanced Breast Cancer Previously Treated With Chemotherapy

You may be eligible if

• DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:
• Histologically or cytologically confirmed locally advanced breast cancer
• * T3 inoperable, N0-N2
• * Any T, N2
• * T4, N0-N2
• * Inflammatory breast carcinoma
• Prior treatment with 4-6 courses of standard induction chemotherapy or active investigational regimens completed within the past 4 weeks
• Residual tumor size less than 5 cm
• No fixed axillary lymph nodes
• No multifocal or bilateral breast cancer
• No clinical suspicion of extensive ductal carcinoma in situ
• No unresolved skin edema
• No distant metastases (including ipsilateral supraclavicular node)
• * Positive bone scan allowed provided there are no bone metastases on x-ray
• Hormone receptor status:
• * Not specified
• PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:
• Age:
• Any age
• Sex:
• Female
• Menopausal status:
• Not specified
• Performance status:
• WHO 0-1
• Life expectancy:
• Not specified
• Hematopoietic:
• Neutrophil count at least 2,000/mm\^3
• Platelet count at least 100,000/mm\^3
• Hepatic:
• Bilirubin less than 1.5 times normal
• SGOT and SGPT no greater than 2 times normal
• Alkaline phosphatase no greater than 2 times normal
• Renal:
• Creatinine less than 1.5 times normal
• Other:
• No other prior or concurrent malignancy except adequately treated squamous cell or basal cell skin cancer or adequately treated cone-biopsied carcinoma in situ of the cervix
• No serious underlying medical illness that would preclude study
• No psychiatric or addictive disorder that would preclude study
• No contraindication to study treatment
• Not pregnant
• Fertile patients must use effective barrier contraception
• PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:
• Biologic therapy:
• Not specified
• Chemotherapy:
• See Disease Characteristics
• Endocrine therapy:
• No concurrent hormonal replacement therapy
• No concurrent oral contraceptives
• Radiotherapy:
• See Disease Characteristics
• No prior radiotherapy for breast cancer
• Surgery:
• No prior surgery for breast cancer other than biopsy for diagnosis confirmation
• Other:
• No other prior systemic therapy for breast cancer