DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

• Histologically confirmed operable adenocarcinoma of the breast, meeting 1 of the following criteria:

  • Node-positive disease, meeting the following criteria:

    • One or more positive lymph nodes (T1-3, pN1-2, M0)
    • No cN2 disease
    • pN2 disease allowed
    • One positive lymph node by sentinel node biopsy or at least 6 axillary nodes must be examined on axillary node dissection with at least 1 positive lymph node
    • Metaplastic carcinoma allowed

  • High-risk node-negative disease, meeting the following criteria:

    • Node-negative as determined by 1 of the following:

      • Negative sentinel node biopsy
      • No positive lymph nodes found among at least 6 axillary nodes examined on axillary node dissection
    • Tumor must be greater than 2.0 cm if estrogen-receptor (ER)- and progesterone-receptor (PR)-positive disease is present OR greater than 1.0 cm if ER and PR negative NOTE: Lymph nodes positive by immunohistochemistry (IHC) only are not considered positive nodes

• HER-2 positive

  • Fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH) must show gene amplification OR
  • IHC assay must show a strong positive (3+) staining score
  • Ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) components must not be counted in determination of the degree of IHC staining or FISH amplification

• No locally advanced (T4) tumors at diagnosis, including:

  • Tumors fixed to chest wall
  • Peau d'orange
  • Skin ulcerations/nodules
  • Clinical inflammatory changes (diffuse brawny cutaneous induration with an erysipeloid edge)

• No bilateral invasive carcinoma or DCIS (metachronous or synchronous)

  • Unilateral invasive carcinoma and previous metachronous or synchronous DCIS of the contralateral breast treated with mastectomy allowed
• No prior breast cancer except lobular carcinoma in situ (LCIS)

• No more than 84 days since prior mastectomy or axillary or sentinel node dissection

  • No gross or microscopic disease at margins
• No significant pericardial effusion

• Hormone receptor status:

  • ER/PR status known

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

Age:

• 18 and over

Sex:

• Female

Menopausal status:

• Any status

Performance status:

• Not specified

Life expectancy:

• Not specified

Hematopoietic:

• Absolute neutrophil count at least 1,500/mm^3
• Platelet count at least 100,000/mm^3

Hepatic:

• Bilirubin no greater than 1.5 times upper limit of normal (ULN)
• AST no greater than 2 times ULN

Renal:

• Not specified

Cardiovascular:

• LVEF normal
• No prior myocardial infarction or congestive heart failure
• No prior arrhythmia or cardiovalvular disease that requires medications or is clinically significant
• No uncontrolled hypertension (diastolic blood pressure [BP] greater than 100 mm Hg and systolic BP greater than 200 mm Hg)

Other:

• Not pregnant or nursing
• Negative pregnancy test
• Fertile patients must use effective barrier contraception during and for 2 months after study participation
• No active unresolved infection
• No known sensitivity to benzyl alcohol
• No grade 2 or greater neuropathy

• No other prior malignancy within the past 5 years except:

  • Effectively treated squamous cell or basal cell skin cancer
  • Carcinoma in situ of the cervix treated with surgery only
  • LCIS of the ipsilateral or contralateral breast treated with surgery and/or tamoxifen only

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

Biologic therapy:

• No prior biologic therapy or immunotherapy for breast cancer

Chemotherapy:

• No prior chemotherapy for breast cancer
• No prior anthracycline or taxane

Endocrine therapy:

• Prior tamoxifen or any other hormonal therapy for breast cancer allowed if administered for no more than 4 weeks
• Prior tamoxifen or raloxifene for chemoprevention (e.g., Breast Cancer Prevention Trial) or for other indications (e.g., prior LCIS) allowed
• No concurrent tamoxifen or raloxifene
• No concurrent hormonal therapy (e.g., birth control pills or hormone replacement therapy)

Radiotherapy:

• No prior radiotherapy for breast cancer

Surgery:

• See Disease Characteristics

Other:

• No concurrent digitalis or beta-blockers for congestive heart failure
• No concurrent medications for cardiac arrhythmias or angina pectoris
• No concurrent cardioprotective drugs