Capecitabine and Paclitaxel (Albumin-Stabilized Nanoparticle Formulation) in Treating Women Undergoing Surgery for Stage II or Stage III Breast Cancer

Inclusion Criteria

• •DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:
• •Histologically confirmed infiltrating carcinoma of the breast or inflammatory breast cancer
• •* Stage II-IIIB disease (T1-4, N1-2, M0)
• •Previously untreated disease
• •Previously unresected disease
• •High-risk disease that is not resectable by lumpectomy alone
• •Any HER2/neu status (positive, negative, or unknown) allowed
• •Hormone receptor status:
• •* Any estrogen/progesterone status (positive, negative, or unknown) allowed
• •PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:
• •Female
• •Menopausal status not specified
• •ECOG performance status 0-2
• •Life expectancy \> 3 months
• •Absolute neutrophil count \> 1,500/mm³
• •Platelet count \> 100,000/mm³
• •Hemoglobin \> 9.0 g/dL
• •Creatinine \< 1.5 mg/dL
• •Bilirubin \< 1.5 times upper limit of normal (ULN)
• •ALT and AST \< 2.5 times ULN (5 times ULN if due to Gilbert's disease)
• •Alkaline phosphatase \< 2.5 times ULN (5 times ULN if due to Gilbert's disease)
• •PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:
• •See Disease Characteristics