Herceptin Followed by Chemotherapy in Treating Women With Metastatic Breast Cancer That Overexpresses HER2

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: Histologically confirmed HER2-overexpressing metastatic breast carcinoma Clinically or radiologically measurable or evaluable disease Bidimensionally or unidimensionally measurable lesions No ascitic, pleural, or pericardial effusions, osteoblastic bone metastases, or carcinomatous lymphangitis of the lung as only indicator lesion No known clinical brain or meningeal involvement Hormone receptor status: Not specified PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: Age: 18 to 70 Sex: Female Menopausal status: Not specified Performance status: ECOG 0-1 OR SAKK 0-1 Life expectancy: At least 12 weeks Hematopoietic: Hemoglobin at least 10 g/dL Platelet count at least 100,000/mm^3 Absolute neutrophil count at least 2,000/mm^3 Hepatic: Bilirubin normal SGOT and/or SGPT no greater than 2 times upper limit of normal (ULN) (3 times ULN if proven liver metastases) OR No SGOT and/or SGPT greater than 1.5 times ULN if alkaline phosphatase greater than 2.5 times ULN Renal: Creatinine no greater than 1.25 times ULN Cardiovascular: LVEF normal No history of atrial ventricular arrhythmia, congestive heart failure, or angina pectoris, even if medically controlled No history of second or third-degree heart blocks No uncontrolled hypertension Other: Not pregnant or nursing Fertile patients must use effective contraception No pre-existing motor or sensory neuropathy grade 2 or greater No psychiatric disorder that would preclude informed consent No other prior malignancy except curatively treated nonmelanoma skin cancer or carcinoma in situ of the cervix No definite contraindications for use of corticosteroids No other concurrent serious illness or medical condition PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY: Biologic therapy: Not specified Chemotherapy: Prior adjuvant or neoadjuvant chemotherapy allowed No more than 2 prior chemotherapy regimens for metastatic disease No prior cumulative dose of doxorubicin greater than 240 mg/m^2 No prior cumulative dose of epirubicin greater than 360 mg/m^2 No prior taxanes Endocrine therapy: Prior hormonal therapy as adjuvant treatment or for metastatic disease allowed No concurrent corticosteroids unless started more than 6 months prior to study and at low doses (i.e., no greater than 20 mg methylprednisolone or equivalent) Radiotherapy: Not specified Surgery: Not specified Other: No other concurrent anticancer drugs No other concurrent experimental drugs No concurrent bisphosphonates unless initiated more than 3 months prior to study Chronic use allowed provided bone metastases are not sole indicator lesions