DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

• Histologically confirmed breast cancer that overexpresses HER-2/NEU

  • HER-2/NEU overexpression is defined as 3+ HER-2 positivity as measured by immunohistochemistry OR HER-2 gene amplification as measured by FISH
• Evidence of metastatic disease and/or chest wall recurrence
• Evaluable (measurable or non-measurable) disease is allowed if confirmed within 4 weeks prior to study randomization
• No history or radiologic evidence of CNS disease
• Hormone receptor status not specified

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

• Male or female
• Menopausal status not specified
• ECOG performance status of 0 or 1
• Absolute neutrophil count ≥ 1,000/mm^3
• Platelet count ≥ 100,000/mm^3
• Total bilirubin ≤ 1.5 mg/dL
• AST ≤ 2 times upper limit of normal (ULN) (≤ 5 times normal in patients with known liver involvement)
• Serum creatinine ≤ 1.5 mg/dL
• Urine protein:creatinine ratio ≤ 0.5 OR 24-hour urine protein < 1,000 mg
• INR ≤ 1.5 times ULN
• PTT ≤ 1.5 times ULN
• LVEF above the lower limit of normal by MUGA scan or ECHO
• No grade 2-4 neuropathy

• No clinically significant cardiovascular disease, including any of the following:

  • Cerebrovascular accident within the past 6 months
  • Myocardial infarction or unstable angina within the past 6 months
  • New York Heart Association class II-IV congestive heart failure
  • Uncontrolled hypertension
  • Unstable angina pectoris
  • Serious cardiac arrhythmia requiring medication
  • Clinically significant peripheral vascular disease
• Not pregnant or nursing
• Negative pregnancy test
• Fertile patients must use effective contraception
• No current non-healing wound or fracture
• No hypersensitivity to Chinese hamster ovary cell products or other recombinant human antibodies, paclitaxel, or drugs using the vehicle Cremophor®
• No serious medical or psychiatric illness that would preclude study participation
• No other active malignancy within the past 5 years except carcinoma in situ of the cervix or nonmelanoma skin cancer

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

• Endocrine treatment in the adjuvant or metastatic setting is allowed, provided last dose given ≥ 2 weeks prior to randomization.
• Adjuvant trastuzumab (Herceptin®) therapy for breast cancer is allowed provided last dose was given ≥ 12 months prior to diagnosis of recurrence
• Adjuvant or neoadjuvant therapy with lapatinib ditosylate is allowed provided last dose was given ≥ 4 weeks prior to diagnosis of recurrence
• Adjuvant or neoadjuvant taxane therapy for breast cancer is allowed provided last dose was given ≥ 12 months prior to diagnosis of recurrence
• More than 3 weeks since prior radiotherapy
• No prior chemotherapy, trastuzumab, or bevacizumab for metastatic breast cancer
• No prior cumulative dose of doxorubicin hydrochloride > 360 mg/m^2 or epirubicin hydrochloride > 640 mg/m^2 (in the neoadjuvant or adjuvant setting)
• More than 4 weeks since prior major surgical procedure (except for non-operative biopsy)
• More than 7 days since prior placement of a vascular access device

• Concurrent full-dose anticoagulants (e.g., warfarin) with PT/INR > 1.5 allowed provided the following criteria are met:

  • In-range INR (usually between 2 and 3) on a stable dose of oral anticoagulant or on a stable dose of low molecular weight heparin
  • No active bleeding or pathological condition that carries a high risk of bleeding (e.g., tumor involving major vessels or known varices)
• No concurrent local radiotherapy for pain control or life-threatening situations

• No concurrent drugs known to inhibit platelet function, including the following:

  • Dipyridamole
  • Ticlopidine
  • Clopidogrel
  • Cilostazol