OUTLINE: Patients receive intravenous doxorubicin over 15 minutes on day 0, followed by intravenous cyclophosphamide over 30 minutes. An hour after the end of the doxorubicin infusion, intravenous docetaxel is administered over 1 hour. Patients receive courses every 21 days until disease progression or unacceptable toxic effects are observed. When the maximum dose of doxorubicin is reached, treatment continues with docetaxel and cyclophosphamide. Patients with locally advanced breast cancer receive chemotherapy for at least 2 courses after documented response. Patients are followed every 6 weeks.