Statement: Participants with HER2- primary liver tumors, confirmed by fluorescence in-situ hybridization are eligible for the secondary trial and the primary trial.
Primary_evidence: Inclusion Criteria:   Participant is able to provide signed informed consent   Participant is female and  18 years of age or older if required by local laws or regulations   Participant has histologically or cytologically confirmed adenocarcinoma of the breast that is now metastatic or locally-recurrent and inoperable with curative intent. Every effort should be made to make paraffin-embedded tissue or slides from the diagnostic biopsy or surgical specimen available for confirmation of diagnosis   Participant has measurable and/or non-measurable disease   Participants' primary and/or metastatic tumor is human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)-negative by fluorescence in-situ hybridization (FISH) or chromogenic in-situ hybridization (CISH) or 0, 1+ overexpression by immunohistochemistry (IHC)   Participant has not received prior chemotherapy for metastatic or locally-recurrent and inoperable breast cancer   Participant completed (neo) adjuvant taxane therapy at least 6 months prior to randomization   Participant completed (neo) adjuvant biologic therapy at least 6 weeks prior to randomization   Participant completed all prior radiotherapy with curative intent  3 weeks prior to randomization   Participant may have received prior hormonal therapy for breast cancer in the (neo) adjuvant and/or the metastatic setting  2 weeks prior to randomization   Participant's left ventricular ejection fraction is within normal institutional ranges   Participant has resolution to grade  1 by the National Cancer Institute Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events, Version 3 (NCI-CTCAE v 3.0) of all clinically significant toxic effects of prior chemotherapy, surgery, radiotherapy, or hormonal therapy with the exception of peripheral neuropathy which must have resolved to grade  2   Participant has an Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status of 0-1   Participant is amenable to compliance with protocol schedules and testing   Participant has adequate hematological functions [absolute neutrophil count (ANC)  1500 cells/microliter (mcL), hemoglobin  9 grams/deciliter (g/dL), and platelets  100,000 cells/mcL and  850,000 cells/mcL]   Participant has adequate hepatic function [bilirubin within normal limits (WNL), aspartate transaminase (AST) and alanine transaminase (ALT)  2.5 times the upper limit of normal (ULN), or  5.0 times the ULN if the transaminase elevation is due to liver metastases, and alkaline phosphatase  5.0 times the ULN]   Participant has serum creatinine  1.5 x ULN. If serum creatinine > 1.5 x ULN the calculated creatinine clearance should be > 40 milliliters/minute (mL/min)   Participant's urinary protein is  1+ on dipstick or routine urinalysis (UA); if urine protein  2+, a 24-hour urine collection must demonstrate < 1000 milligrams (mg) of protein in 24 hours to allow participation in the study   Participant must have adequate coagulation function as defined by international normalized ratio (INR)  1.5 and a partial thromboplastin time (PTT)  1.5 X ULN if not receiving anticoagulation therapy. Participants on full-dose anticoagulation must be on a stable dose of oral anticoagulant or low molecular weight heparin and if on warfarin must have a INR between 2 and 3 and have no active bleeding (defined as within 14 days of randomization) or pathological condition that carries a high risk of bleeding (such as, tumor involving major vessels or known varices)   Women of childbearing potential must implement adequate contraception in the opinion of the investigator   Participant has not received prior biologic therapy for metastatic or locally recurrent and inoperable breast cancer Exclusion Criteria:   Participant has a concurrent active malignancy other than breast adenocarcinoma, adequately treated non melanomatous skin cancer, or other non-invasive carcinoma or in situ neoplasm. A participant with previous history of malignancy is eligible, provided that she has been disease free for > 3 years   Participant has a known sensitivity to docetaxel or other drugs formulated with polysorbate 80   Participant has a known sensitivity to agents of similar biologic composition as ramucirumab or other agents that specifically target vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)   Participant has a history of chronic diarrheal disease within 6 months prior to randomization   Participant has received irradiation to a major bone marrow area as defined as > 25% of bone marrow (such as, pelvic or abdominal radiation) within 30 days prior to randomization   Participant has participated in clinical trials of experimental agents within 4 weeks prior to randomization   Participant has a history of uncontrolled hereditary or acquired bleeding or thrombotic disorders   Participant has active, high risk bleeding (such as, via gastric ulcers or gastric varices) within 14 days prior to randomization   Participant has an ongoing or active infection requiring parenteral antibiotic, antifungal, or antiviral therapy   Participant has uncontrolled hypertension, symptomatic congestive heart failure, unstable angina pectoris, symptomatic or poorly controlled cardiac arrhythmia, psychiatric illness/social situations, or any other serious uncontrolled medical disorders in the opinion of the investigator   Participant has brain metastases, uncontrolled spinal cord compression, or carcinomatous meningitis, or new evidence of brain or leptomeningeal disease   Participant has known human immunodeficiency virus infection or acquired immunodeficiency syndrome-related illness   Participant has pulmonary lymphangitic involvement that results in pulmonary dysfunction requiring active treatment, including the use of oxygen.   Participant is pregnant or lactating
Secondary_evidence: DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:   Histologically or cytologically confirmed diagnosis of adenocarcinoma of the breast   Evidence of metastatic involvement (stage IV disease)   Patients must have measurable disease   At least one measurable lesion as defined by the Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors (RECIST)   Treated brain metastases (surgery or radiation therapy) allowed if clinically stable   Patients with leptomeningeal disease are ineligible   Hormone receptor status:   Not specified   PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:   Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status 0-2   Male or female   Menopausal status not specified   Absolute neutrophil count (ANC)  1,500/mm^3   Platelet count  100,000/mm^3   Creatinine clearance > 50 mL/min   Fertile patients must use effective contraception   No history of another severe and/or life-threatening medical disease   No other active primary malignancy   Not pregnant or nursing   Negative pregnancy test   Patients with asymptomatic HIV infection are eligible   Liver dysfunction score  9   No pre-existing liver disease (i.e., cirrhosis or active viral hepatitis)   No active gastrointestinal malabsorption illness   No clinically significant cardiac disease, including the following:   Congestive heart failure, symptomatic coronary artery disease, and cardiac arrhythmias not well controlled with medication, or myocardial infarction within the past six months   No prior unanticipated severe reaction to fluoropyrimidine therapy, known hypersensitivity to fluorouracil, or known dihydropyrimidine dehydrogenase deficiency   No history of uncontrolled seizures or central nervous system disorders   No significant history of noncompliance to medical regimens   No clinically significant psychiatric disability that would preclude study compliance   PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:   No previous capecitabine   Up to 3 prior cytotoxic regimens allowed for metastatic disease   Prior noncytotoxic therapy allowed (e.g., hormonal treatment or trastuzumab)   No other concurrent therapies intended to treat the primary condition including chemotherapy, biologic agents, or immunotherapy   No concurrent anti-estrogen therapy, radiation therapy, or investigational systemic therapy   No other concurrent investigational drugs   No concurrent use of the following drugs: warfarin for full anticoagulation, cimetidine, or azidothymidine (AZT)   Mini-dose warfarin for prophylaxis of central venous catheter thrombosis allowed   At least 4 weeks since prior sorivudine or brivudine   Concurrent use of bisphosphonates allowed if initiated before beginning study therapy   Concurrent use of megestrol acetate suspension as an appetite stimulant allowed