Trastuzumab and Exemestane in Treating Postmenopausal Women With Metastatic or Locally Advanced Breast Cancer

You may be eligible if

• DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:
• Histologically confirmed breast cancer
• * Stage IV or locally advanced disease
• * Staged by bone scan or CT scan of chest and/or abdomen within the past 6 weeks
• HER2/neu positive by fluorescent in situ hybridization (if 2+ by immunohistochemistry) or 3+ by immunohistochemistry
• Measurable disease defined by 1 of the following criteria:
• * At least 1 dimension at least 1 cm by CT scan or other imaging scan
• * At least 1 diameter at least 1 cm by plain x-ray (excluding bone lesions)
• * Palpable lesion with both diameters at least 1 cm with caliper OR
• Evaluable disease defined by 1 of the following criteria:
• * Positive bone scan
• * Palpable masses with diameter less than 1 cm, masses with margins not clearly defined on CT scan or x-ray, or with both diameters less than 1 cm
• * Bone scan and CA 27.29 if bone scan only evaluable disease
• Hormone receptor status:
• * Estrogen receptor and/or progesterone receptor positive
• PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:
• Age
• 18 and over
• Sex
• Female
• Menopausal status
• Postmenopausal by 1 of the following criteria:
• * 60 years of age and over
• * 45 years of age and over with amenorrhea more than 12 months and an intact uterus
• * Follicle-stimulating hormone levels within postmenopausal range
• * Undergone bilateral oophorectomy
• Performance status
• ECOG 0-2
• Life expectancy
• Not specified
• Hematopoietic
• Not specified
• Hepatic
• Bilirubin less than 1.5 times upper limit of normal
• Renal
• Creatinine less than 2 mg/dL
• Cardiovascular
• Ejection fraction greater than 50%
• Other
• Not pregnant or nursing
• PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:
• Biologic therapy
• No prior trastuzumab (Herceptin)
• Chemotherapy
• Prior chemotherapy allowed
• Endocrine therapy
• No prior exemestane
• No other prior hormonal agent (except tamoxifen)
• Radiotherapy
• Not specified
• Surgery
• Not specified