Combination of Chemotherapy With Taxol, Adriamycin, and Cytoxan (TAC), Multiple Infusions of Activated T Cells (ATC), Interleukin-2 (IL-2) and GM-CSF for High Risk Breast Cancer With and Without Her2/Neu Overexpression. (Phase I/II)

OBJECTIVES:

• Determine the toxic effects of sequential paclitaxel (or other taxane), doxorubicin, and cyclophosphamide followed by immunotherapy with activated T cells, interleukin-2, and sargramostim (GM-CSF) in patients with high-risk stage II or III breast cancer.
• Determine the disease-free survival and overall survival of patients treated with this regimen.
• Determine the immune function of patients treated with this regimen.

OUTLINE: Patients are stratified according to number of positive lymph nodes (less than 4 nodes vs 4-9 nodes vs 10 or more nodes), type of taxane chemotherapy during study (paclitaxel vs other taxane), and prior treatment with 2 of 3 study chemotherapy agents (yes vs no).

Patients receive doxorubicin IV on day 1 and filgrastim (G-CSF) on days 3-10 of 3 consecutive 14-day courses. Patients then receive paclitaxel or another taxane IV on day 1 and G-CSF on days 3-10 of 3 consecutive 14-day courses. Patients then receive cyclophosphamide IV on day 1 and G-CSF on days 3-10 of 3 consecutive 14-day courses. Patients who enroll after previously receiving 2 of these 3 chemotherapy drugs may receive the third. Treatment continues in the absence of disease progression or unacceptable toxicity.

After recovery from chemotherapy, patients undergo peripheral blood mononuclear cell (PBMC) collection. The PBMC are treated ex vivo with monoclonal antibody OKT3 to form activated T cells (ATC). The ATC are expanded for up to 14 days in interleukin-2 (IL-2).