DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

• Histologically confirmed metastatic adenocarcinoma of the breast

• Bidimensionally measurable or evaluable disease

  • At least one non-irradiated lesion that is at least 2 cm in the greater diameter OR
  • Serous drainage, cutaneous metastasis, osseous metastasis, etc.
• No symptomatic cerebral metastasis

• Hormone receptor status:

  • Not specified

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

Age:

• 75 to 90

Sex:

• Female

Menopausal status:

• Postmenopausal

Performance status:

• WHO 0-2

Life expectancy:

• At least 3 months

Hematopoietic:

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

Hepatic:

• Alkaline phosphatase less than 3 times normal
• Bilirubin less than 1.5 times normal
• Transaminases less than 3 times normal
• Total protein greater than 60%
• Albumin greater than 30 g/L

Renal:

• Creatinine clearance greater than 60 mL/min

Cardiovascular:

• LVEF greater than 50% by echocardiogram or scintigraph
• ECG normal
• No uncontrolled angina
• No myocardial infarction within past 6 months

Other:

• No other medical illness or condition that would preclude study
• No other prior malignancy except basal cell skin cancer or curatively treated carcinoma in situ of the cervix
• No psychological, social, familial, or geographical reasons that would preclude study

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

Biologic therapy:

• Not specified

Chemotherapy:

• Prior adjuvant chemotherapy allowed
• No prior adjuvant anthracyclines
• No prior chemotherapy for metastatic disease

Endocrine therapy:

• One or two prior regimens of hormonal therapy allowed for metastatic disease

Radiotherapy:

• No prior radiotherapy for metastatic disease

Surgery:

• Not specified

Other:

• No concurrent participation in another study