Monoclonal Antibody Therapy and Docetaxel in Treating Women With Metastatic or Recurrent Breast Cancer

Inclusion criteria

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: * Histologically confirmed metastatic or recurrent breast carcinoma * Unresectable disease * Previously treated with no more than 2 chemotherapy regimens for metastatic disease OR * Recurrent within 6 months of adjuvant chemotherapy * Must have one of the following: * Measurable disease * Positive bone scan and elevation of serum tumor marker for adenocarcinoma * Serum levels must have increased over 2 consecutive measurements and exceed at least 2 times upper limit of normal * Lewis-y antigen expression documented by immunohistochemistry * No brain metastases that are uncontrolled or require active treatment (including steroids) * Hormone receptor status: * Not specified PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: Age: * 18 and over Sex: * Female Menopausal status: * Not specified Performance status: * ECOG 0-2 Life expectancy: * At least 3 months Hematopoietic: * Hemoglobin at least 10 g/dL * Absolute neutrophil count at least 1,500/mm\^3 * Platelet count at least 100,000/mm\^3 * No bleeding diathesis Hepatic: * Bilirubin no greater than 1.5 mg/dL * SGOT no greater than 2.5 times normal * Alkaline phosphatase no greater than 2.5 times normal (unless documented bony metastasis present) * Amylase/lipase less than 1.5 times normal * Hepatitis B and C negative * No hepatic failure Renal: * Creatinine no greater than 1.5 times upper limit of normal * No renal failure Cardiovascular: * LVEF greater than 50% by echocardiogram or MUGA scan * No congestive heart failure Other: * HIV negative * No antibody present that detects monoclonal antibody BR96 in serum * No peripheral neuropathy grade 2 or greater * No dementia or altered mental status * No other serious underlying medical condition that would preclude study participation * No prior allergic reactions to recombinant human or murine proteins * No uncontrolled peptic ulcer disease * No active viral, bacterial, or systemic fungal infections * No other primary malignancy except nonmelanoma skin cancer or carcinoma in situ of the cervix * No serious nonmalignant disease * Not pregnant or nursing * Negative pregnancy test * Fertile patients must use effective contraception PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY: Biologic therapy: * At least 8 weeks since prior therapeutic or diagnostic murine/humanized/human chimeric antibodies Chemotherapy: * See Disease Characteristics * At least 4 weeks since prior chemotherapy (6 weeks for nitrosoureas, carboplatin, mitomycin, or anthracyclines) * No prior cumulative anthracycline of 300 mg/m2 or more * No concurrent antineoplastic agents Endocrine therapy: * See Disease Characteristics * At least 4 weeks since prior hormonal therapy * No concurrent hormonal therapy except estrogen replacement Radiotherapy: * At least 4 weeks since prior radiotherapy Surgery: * See Disease Characteristics Other: * No other concurrent experimental agents * No concurrent immunosuppressive medications