PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: Age: 18 and over Sex: Female Menopausal status: Not specified Performance status: ECOG 0-2 Life expectancy: Not specified Hematopoietic: WBC at least 3,000/mm3 Absolute neutrophil count at least 1,500/mm3 Platelet count at least 100,000/mm3 Hepatic: Bilirubin normal Alkaline phosphatase no greater than 2.5 times upper limit of normal (ULN) SGOT and SGPT no greater than 1.5 times ULN Renal: Creatinine no greater than 2.0 mg/dL Cardiovascular: No congestive heart failure Ejection fraction greater than 45% by MUGA No myocardial infarction within the past 6 months No ischemic heart disease requiring medication No uncontrolled hypertension Other: No peripheral neuropathy grade 2 or more No other prior malignancy within the past 5 years except curatively treated basal cell or squamous cell carcinoma of the skin, carcinoma in situ of the cervix, or contralateral breast cancer No active unresolved infection No history of hypersensitivity reaction to products containing Polysorbate 80 No poorly controlled diabetes mellitus Not pregnant Negative pregnancy test Fertile patients must use effective contraception