This phase II trial studies how well giving paclitaxel albumin-stabilized nanoparticle (Nab-paclitaxel) formulation together with bevacizumab followed by bevacizumab and erlotinib hydrochloride work in treating patients with metastatic breast cancer. Drugs used in chemotherapy, such as paclitaxel albumin-stabilized nanoparticle formulation, work in different ways to stop the growth of tumor cells, either by killing the cells or by stopping them from dividing. Monoclonal antibodies, such as bevacizumab, can prevent cancer growth by blocking the ability of cancer cells to grow and spread. Erlotinib hydrochloride may stop the growth of tumor cells by blocking some of the enzymes needed for cell growth. This trial evaluates a maintenance treatment with erlotinib and bevacizumab after Nab-paclitaxel and bevacizumab which may control cancer growth with biologic therapies.

PRIMARY OBJECTIVES:

I. Progression free survival.

SECONDARY OBJECTIVES:

I. Response rate.

II. Overall survival.

III. Safety and toxicity.

IV. Exploratory biomarkers will be assessed as potential predictors of response to treatment including: expression of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) and secreted protein acidic and rich in cysteine (SPARC) in the primary tumor and changes in levels of circulating tumor cells (CTCs) and circulating endothelial cells (CECs).

OUTLINE:

INDUCTION THERAPY: Patients receive paclitaxel albumin-stabilized nanoparticle formulation intravenously (IV) on days 1, 8, and 15 and bevacizumab IV over 30-90 minutes on days 1 and 15. Treatment repeats every 28 days for 6 courses in the absence of disease progression or unacceptable toxicity.

MAINTENANCE THERAPY: Patients achieving complete response, partial response, or stable disease after completion of induction therapy will receive bevacizumab IV over 30-90 minutes once every 14 or 21 days and erlotinib hydrochloride orally (PO) once daily (QD) in the absence of disease progression or unacceptable toxicity.

After completion of study treatment, patients are followed up per physician discretion.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Have histologically confirmed invasive breast cancer that is estrogen receptor (ER) negative (=< 10%), progesterone receptor (PR) negative (=< 10%) and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) normal (=< 10% of cells) by immunohistochemistry (IHC) or fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH)
• Be receiving first-line therapy for metastatic disease
• Measurable disease by Response Evaluation Criteria In Solid Tumors (RECIST) criteria; X-rays, scans or physical examinations used for tumor measurement must have been completed within 28 days prior to registration; X-rays, scans or other tests for assessment of non-measurable disease must have been performed within 42 days prior to registration
• OR non-measurable disease only, with rising serum cancer antigen (CA)15-3 or CA 27.29 or carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) documented by two consecutive measurements taken at least 14 days apart with the most recent measurement being within 42 days prior to registration; the second CA 15-3 or CA 27.29 or CEA value must have at least a 20% increase over the first and for CA 15-3 or CA 27.29 be greater than or equal to 40 units/mL or for CEA be greater than or equal to 4 ng/mL
• Subjects with brain metastases as their first site of disease recurrence may be eligible if treated by definitive radiation (stereotactic radiosurgery or whole brain) with clinically controlled neurologic symptoms for a period of 21 days prior to study treatment
• Bilirubin =< 1.5 mg/dL
• Aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) =< 2.5 X upper limit of normal, unless bone metastasis is present in the absence of liver metastasis
• Alkaline phosphatase =< 2.5 X upper limit of normal, unless bone metastasis is present in the absence of liver metastasis
• Platelets > 100,000 cells/mm^3
• Hemoglobin > 9.0 g/dL
• Absolute neutrophil count (ANC) >= 1,500 cells/mm^3
• Creatinine =< 1.5 mg/dL is recommended; however, institutional norms are acceptable
• If of childbearing potential must have a negative pregnancy test and use an effective method to avoid pregnancy for the duration of the trial and for at least 6 months after completion of study therapy
• Pre-existing peripheral neuropathy, if present, must be < grade 2 (per Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events [CTCAE] version 3.0)
• Patients must be informed of the investigational nature of this study and must sign and give informed consent in accordance with institutional standards and federal guidelines

Exclusion Criteria:

• Recurrent disease within 12 months after completion of adjuvant chemotherapy containing a weekly taxane

• Central nervous system (CNS) metastases that are symptomatic and/or requiring steroids

• Pre-existing nephritic syndrome

• Serious intercurrent medical or psychiatric illness including serious active infection

• Inadequately controlled hypertension (defined as systolic blood pressure > 150 and/or diastolic blood pressure > 100 mmHg on antihypertensive medications)

• Any prior history of hypertensive crisis or hypertensive encephalopathy

• New York Heart Association (NYHA) grade II or greater congestive heart failure

• History of myocardial infarction or unstable angina within 6 months prior to study enrollment

• History of stroke or transient ischemic attack within 6 months prior to study enrollment

• Significant vascular disease (e.g., aortic aneurysm, aortic dissection)

• Symptomatic peripheral vascular disease

• Evidence of bleeding diathesis or coagulopathy

• Major surgical procedure, open biopsy, or significant traumatic injury within 28 days prior to study enrollment or anticipation of need for major surgical procedure during the course of the study

• Core biopsy or other minor surgical procedure, excluding placement of a vascular access device, within 7 days prior to study enrollment

• History of abdominal fistula, gastrointestinal perforation, or intra-abdominal abscess within 6 months prior to study enrollment

• Serious, non-healing wound, ulcer, or bone fracture

• Proteinuria at screening as demonstrated by either:

  • Urine protein:creatinine (UPC) ratio >= 1.0 at screening OR
  • Urine dipstick for proteinuria > 2+ (patients discovered to have > 2+ proteinuria on dipstick urinalysis at baseline must have a UPC ratio done that is < 1.0 to be eligible; if the UPC ratio is >= 1.0 then the patient should undergo a 24-hour urine collection which must demonstrate =< 1 g of protein in 24 hours for the patient to be eligible)

• Known hypersensitivity to any component of bevacizumab or to nab-paclitaxel (paclitaxel albumin-stabilized nanoparticle formulation)