DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: Histologically or cytologically confirmed stage IV breast cancer Disease progression following prior adjuvant chemotherapy (no disease progression during treatment with prior doxorubicin) Bidimensionally measurable disease Prior radiotherapy allowed if disease completely outside radiation port or histologic evidence of measured area indicating malignancy and not radiation fibrosis No CNS metastases Brain metastases previously treated with radiotherapy or surgical excision allowed if no evidence of residual metastases on brain CT or MRI Hormone receptor status: Not specified