Statement: A patient with severe anginal syndrome but angiographically normal coronary arteries would be unable to participate in the primary trial.
Primary_evidence: DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:   Histologically confirmed stage IV or recurrent adenocarcinoma of the breast   Measurable disease   Disease recurrence must not be within 1 year of receiving prior adjuvant docetaxel   Stable brain metastases allowed   Hormone receptor status:   Not specified   PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:   Age   18 and over   Sex   Male or female   Menopausal status   Not specified   Performance status   ECOG (Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group) 0-2 OR   Karnofsky 60-100%   Life expectancy   More than 6 months   Hematopoietic   WBC(White Blood Count) at least 3,000/mm^3   Platelet count at least 100,000/mm^3   Absolute neutrophil count at least 1,500/mm^3   Hemoglobin at least 8 g/dL   Hepatic   Bilirubin normal   AST(aspartate aminotransferase)/ALT(alanine aminotransferase) no greater than 2.5 times upper limit of normal   Renal   Creatinine normal OR   Creatinine clearance at least 60 mL/min   No clinically significant proteinuria   No significant impairment of renal function   Cardiovascular   No New York Heart Association class III or IV heart disease   No symptomatic congestive heart failure   No unstable angina pectoris   No cardiac arrhythmia   No inadequately controlled hypertension   Other   Not pregnant or nursing   Negative pregnancy test   Fertile patients must use effective barrier contraception   No prior severe hypersensitivity reaction to docetaxel or drugs formulated with polysorbate 80   No other malignancy within the past 10 years except inactive nonmelanoma skin cancer, carcinoma in situ of the cervix, carcinoma in situ of the breast, or bilateral breast cancer   No ongoing or active infection   No peripheral neuropathy greater than grade 1   No other concurrent uncontrolled medical condition that would preclude study participation   No psychiatric illness or social situation that would preclude study compliance   PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:   Biologic therapy   Prior trastuzumab (Herceptin) allowed   Chemotherapy   See Disease Characteristics   No prior chemotherapy for recurrent or metastatic disease   Prior adjuvant chemotherapy allowed   Endocrine therapy   Prior hormonal therapy allowed   Radiotherapy   Not specified   Surgery   Not specified   Other   No other concurrent investigational agents