DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

• Histologically confirmed adenocarcinoma of the breast that is potentially curable

  • T0-4 (dermal involvement on pathology assessment only), N0-2, M0
  • No clinical T4 disease

• Previously treated with one of the following:

  • Total mastectomy and level II axillary node dissection
  • Partial mastectomy and level II axillary node dissection with planned breast radiotherapy after completion of study*
  • Patients with a positive sentinel node biopsy must undergo level II axillary node dissection or sufficient nodal sampling NOTE: *If microscopic residual in situ or invasive disease is present at total or partial mastectomy margins, planned radiotherapy must also include a boost to the tumor bed
• No residual tumor in the axilla after dissection

• Axillary node positive

  • Negative nodes allowed if the tumor is ≥ 1 cm and 1 of the following criteria defining high-risk node-negative disease are met:

    • Histological grade III
    • Estrogen receptor negative
    • Lymphatic/vascular invasion

• Hormone receptor status:

  • Estrogen receptor status known

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

Age:

• 60 and under

Sex:

• Female

Menopausal status:

• Pre- or postmenopausal

Performance status:

• ECOG 0-2

Life expectancy:

• At least 5 years

Hematopoietic:

• WBC ≥ 3,000/mm^3
• Platelet count ≥ 100,000/mm^3

Hepatic:

• Bilirubin ≤ 1.5 times upper limit of normal (ULN)

Renal:

• Creatinine ≤ 1.5 times ULN

Cardiovascular:

• LVEF ≥ limit of normal by MUGA or echocardiogram
• No arrhythmia requiring ongoing treatment
• No congestive heart failure
• No documented coronary artery disease

Other:

• No other malignancy except:

  • Adequately treated basal cell or squamous cell skin cancer or carcinoma in situ of the cervix
  • Ductal or lobular carcinoma in situ that has been curatively treated by surgery alone
  • Other prior malignancies (except breast cancer) curatively treated more than 5 years prior to study entry
• No serious underlying medical illness or psychiatric or addictive disorder that would preclude study compliance
• No known hypersensitivity to E. coli-derived products, mammalian-cell derived products, or any study agents
• Not pregnant or nursing
• Negative pregnancy test
• Fertile patients must use effective non-hormonal contraception

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

Biologic therapy:

• No prior immunotherapy for breast cancer

• No concurrent pegfilgrastim or darbepoetin alfa (Arm II)

  • Allowed on arms 1 and 3 if medically necessary

Chemotherapy:

• No prior chemotherapy for breast cancer

Endocrine therapy:

• No prior hormonal therapy for breast cancer
• No concurrent hormone replacement therapy
• No concurrent selective estrogen-receptor modulators (e.g., raloxifene for the treatment or prevention of osteoporosis)
• No concurrent oral contraceptives (i.e., birth control pills)
• No other concurrent aromatase inhibitors

Radiotherapy:

• See Disease Characteristics
• No prior radiotherapy for breast cancer

Surgery:

• See Disease Characteristics
• No more than 12 weeks since prior total or partial mastectomy (including re-excision of margins)

Other:

• At least 30 days since prior investigational drugs
• No other concurrent investigational drugs
• Concurrent bisphosphonates for the treatment or prevention of osteoporosis allowed