DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: Metastatic breast cancer within 2 years of an adjuvant anthracycline based chemotherapy for advanced disease, or failure of one prior anthracycline based chemotherapeutic regimen for advanced breast cancer Exception: When anthracyclines are contraindicated, metastatic disease within 2 years of any adjuvant cytotoxic regimen, or failure of one prior cytotoxic chemotherapeutic regimen for advanced breast cancer also qualifies Evaluable or measurable disease in at least one nonirradiated area No CNS metastases