DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

* Histologically confirmed stage IV breast cancer

* Metastasis to the ipsilateral supraclavicular lymph nodes allowed
* HER2-positive by fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) or immunohistochemistry 3+ staining confirmed in the adjuvant or metastatic setting
* No effusions or ascites as only sites of disease
* No primary or metastatic brain or central nervous system tumor
* Hormone receptor status:

* Not specified

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

Age:

* 18 and over

Sex:

* Female

Menopausal status:

* Not specified

Performance status:

* Zubrod 0-2

Life expectancy:

* Not specified

Hematopoietic:

* Absolute neutrophil count at least 1,500/mm\^3
* Platelet count at least 100,000/mm\^3

Hepatic:

* Bilirubin normal
* aspartate aminotransferase or Alanine aminotranferease no greater than 1.5 times upper limit of normal (ULN)
* Alkaline phosphatase no greater than 2.5 times ULN

Renal:

* Not specified

Cardiovascular:

* left ventricular ejection fraction normal by multigated radionuclide angiography or echocardiogram (patients who have received prior anthracycline therapy)
* No clinical evidence or history of cardiomyopathy

Other:

* No pre-existing grade 2 or greater motor or sensory peripheral neuropathy except abnormalities due to cancer
* No prior severe hypersensitivity reaction to docetaxel or other drugs formulated with Polysorbate 80
* No other malignancy within the past 5 years except adequately treated basal cell or squamous cell skin cancer, carcinoma in situ of the cervix, or other adequately treated stage I or II cancer currently in complete remission
* No known sensitivity to E. coli-derived proteins
* Not pregnant or nursing
* Negative pregnancy test
* Fertile patients must use effective contraception

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

Biologic therapy:

* Not specified

Chemotherapy:

* At least 6 months since prior chemotherapy
* Prior anthracycline as adjuvant therapy allowed
* No prior cumulative dose of doxorubicin more than 360 mg/m\^2
* No prior cumulative dose of epirubicin more than 720 mg/m\^2
* No more than 1 prior adjuvant or neoadjuvant chemotherapy regimen for primary disease
* No prior docetaxel
* No prior vinorelbine
* Prior paclitaxel allowed

Endocrine therapy:

* Prior hormonal therapy as adjuvant therapy or for metastatic breast cancer allowed
* No concurrent hormonal therapy

Radiotherapy:

* At least 3 weeks since prior radiotherapy

Surgery:

* At least 2 weeks since prior surgery and recovered