Tipifarnib may stop the growth of breast cancer by blocking some of the enzymes needed for cell growth and by blocking blood flow to the tumor. Drugs used in chemotherapy, such as paclitaxel, doxorubicin, and cyclophosphamide, work in different ways to stop the growth of tumor cells, either by killing the cells or by stopping them from dividing. Giving tipifarnib together with combination chemotherapy may kill more tumor cells. This phase I/II trial is studying the side effects and best dose of tipifarnib when given together with combination chemotherapy and to see how well they work in treating patients with stage II or stage III breast cancer.

PRIMARY OBJECTIVES:

I. To determine the recommended phase II dose of tipifarnib when given together with paclitaxel in patients with stage IIB-IIIC breast cancer. (Phase I) II. To determine the pathologic complete remission rate (including breast and breast plus axillary nodes) in patients treated with sequential paclitaxel and tipifarnib followed by dose-dense doxorubicin hydrochloride, cyclophosphamide, and tipifarnib. (Phase II) III. To determine the feasibility and safety of this regimen in these patients. (Phase I and II)

OUTLINE: This is a multicenter, phase I, dose-escalation study of tipifarnib followed by a phase II study.

PHASE I: Paclitaxel plus tipifarnib: Patients receive paclitaxel IV over 1 hour on day 1 and oral tipifarnib twice daily on days 1-3.

Treatment repeats weekly for 12 courses in the absence of disease progression or unacceptable toxicity. Patients with no evidence of disease progression after 12 courses proceed to AC chemotherapy plus tipifarnib. Cohorts of 3-6 patients receive escalating doses of tipifarnib until the recommended phase II dose (RTPD) is determined. The RTPD is defined as the dose preceding that at which 2 of 3 or 2 of 6 patients experience dose-limiting toxicity.

AC chemotherapy plus tipifarnib: Patients receive doxorubicin hydrochloride IV over 5-10 minutes and cyclophosphamide IV over 30-60 minutes on day 1, oral tipifarnib twice daily on days 2-7, and pegfilgrastim subcutaneously on day 2.

Treatment repeats every 2 weeks for 4 courses in the absence of disease progression or unacceptable toxicity.

PHASE II: Patients receive paclitaxel and tipifarnib at the RTPD and AC chemotherapy plus tipifarnib as in phase I. After completion of AC plus tipifarnib (in both phases), patients are re-evaluated for surgery (i.e., modified radical mastectomy, radical mastectomy, segmental mastectomy or lumpectomy with an axillary lymph node dissection).

After completion of study treatment, patients are followed every 6 months for 5 years and then annually for 5 years.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Histologically or cytologically confirmed adenocarcinoma of the breast; clinical stage IIB, IIIA, IIIB, or IIIC disease

• At least 1 week since prior tamoxifen or other selective estrogen receptor modulator for prevention or for other indications (e.g., osteoporosis or prior ductal carcinoma in situ)

• HER-2/neu-negative by immunohistochemistry or fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH)

• Hormone receptor status:

  • Estrogen and/or progesterone receptor-positive* [Note: *Patients enrolled on the phase I portion of the trial may have estrogen and progesterone receptor-negative disease]

• Normal organ function including:

• WBC >= 3,000/mm^3

• Absolute neutrophil count >= 1,500/mm^3

• Platelet count >= 100,000/mm^3

• Bilirubin normal

• AST and ALT =< 2.5 times upper limit of normal

• LVEF normal by echocardiogram or nuclear scan

• Creatinine normal OR Creatinine clearance >= 60 mL/min

• FEV1 >= 1 L* and DLCO >= 50%* [Note: *Only if baseline CT scan of chest shows parenchymal lung disease OR there is a history of chronic obstructive or other pulmonary disease]

• No prior chemotherapy, radiotherapy, or definitive therapeutic surgery (e.g., mastectomy, lumpectomy, or axillary dissection) for this cancer but prior sentinel lymph node biopsy for this malignancy allowed

• No prior adjuvant chemotherapy for a previous breast malignancy

• No concurrent combination antiretroviral therapy for HIV-positive patients

• No other concurrent investigational agents

• No other concurrent anticancer agents or therapies

• ECOG performance status 0-1

• Fertile patients must use effective contraception

Exclusion criteria:

• No other invasive malignancy within the past 5 years except curatively treated basal cell or squamous cell skin cancer or carcinoma in situ of the cervix
• No history of allergic reactions attributed to compounds of similar chemical or biological composition to tipifarnib or other study drugs (e.g., imidazoles or quinolones)
• No other uncontrolled illness including, but not limited to, any of the following: ongoing or active infection, symptomatic congestive heart failure, unstable angina pectoris, cardiac arrhythmia or psychiatric illness/social situations that would preclude study compliance
• Not pregnant or nursing