DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: Histologically or cytologically confirmed stage IV breast cancer Disease progression following prior adjuvant chemotherapy (no disease progression during treatment with prior doxorubicin) Bidimensionally measurable disease Prior radiotherapy allowed if disease completely outside radiation port or histologic evidence of measured area indicating malignancy and not radiation fibrosis No CNS metastases Brain metastases previously treated with radiotherapy or surgical excision allowed if no evidence of residual metastases on brain CT or MRI Hormone receptor status: Not specified

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: Age: Over 18 Sex: Female Menopausal status: Premenopausal or postmenopausal Performance status: ECOG 0-1 Life expectancy: Greater than 16 weeks Hematopoietic: WBC at least 2,000/mm3 Platelet count greater than 100,000/mm3 Hemoglobin greater than 9 g/dL Hepatic: Bilirubin less than 2.0 mg/dL SGOT/SGPT less than 1.5 times upper limit of normal (ULN) Alkaline phosphatase less than 2.5 times ULN Renal: Not specified Cardiovascular: No symptomatic New York Heart Association class II or greater congestive heart failure No significant arrhythmia requiring drug therapy No myocardial infarction within the past 6 months No uncontrolled cardiac disease or unstable angina Other: Not pregnant or nursing Negative pregnancy test Fertile patients must use effective contraception No other malignancy within the past 5 years except basal cell skin cancer or carcinoma in situ of the cervix No preexisting clinically significant peripheral neuropathy (no prior neuropathy of any grade if previously treated with paclitaxel) No unstable, preexisting medical condition No serious active infection No other underlying medical, psychological, familial, sociologic, or geographic condition that would preclude study

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY: Biologic therapy: At least 7 days since prior hematopoietic growth factors (filgrastim (G-CSF), sargramostim (GM-CSF), or epoetin alfa) At least 7 days since prior platelet transfusion Chemotherapy: See Disease Characteristics No prior vinca alkaloids (including vinorelbine or docetaxel) No other concurrent antineoplastic agents Endocrine therapy: No concurrent anticancer hormonal agents Radiotherapy: See Disease Characteristics No concurrent palliative radiotherapy Surgery: See Disease Characteristics Other: No other concurrent investigational drug or device