DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

• Histologically or cytologically confirmed breast cancer
• Locally advanced disease (stage II or III)
• Not amenable to breast-conserving therapy at the time of diagnosis
• Measurable disease meeting 1 of the following criteria:
• Bidimensionally measurable palpable lesion at least 1 cm by caliper
• Unidimensionally measurable lesion at least 1 cm by a positive mammogram, ultrasound, or MRI
• No evidence of disease outside the breast or chest wall except ipsilateral axillary lymph nodes
• Hormone receptor status:
• Estrogen and/or progesterone receptor positive

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

Age

• Postmenopausal

Sex

• Female

Menopausal status

• Postmenopausal, defined as any of the following:
• Over 60 years of age
• Over 45 years of age with an intact uterus and amenorrhea for more than 12 months
• Prior hysterectomy with follicle-stimulating hormone levels within the postmenopausal range
• Prior ovarian ablation (i.e., bilateral surgical)

Performance status

• ECOG 0-3

Life expectancy

• Not specified

Hematopoietic

• Not specified

Hepatic

• Bilirubin less than 1.5 times upper limit of normal (ULN)

Renal

• Creatinine less than 2 mg/dL

Other

• No other prior or concurrent cancer except nonmetastatic nonmelanoma skin cancer, carcinoma in situ of the cervix, or cancer cured by surgery within the past 5 years

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

Biologic therapy

• No prior biologic therapy for breast cancer

Chemotherapy

• No prior chemotherapy for breast cancer

Endocrine therapy

• No prior hormonal therapy for breast cancer

Radiotherapy

• No prior radiotherapy for breast cancer

Surgery

• Not specified