Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy Using Doxorubicin and Paclitaxel in Treating Women With Large Breast Cancer

RATIONALE: Drugs used in chemotherapy, such as doxorubicin and paclitaxel, work in different ways to stop tumor cells from dividing so they stop growing or die. Giving chemotherapy before and after surgery may shrink the tumor so it can be removed and may kill any tumor cells remaining after surgery. PURPOSE: This randomized phase II trial is comparing two different regimens of doxorubicin and paclitaxel to see how well they work in treating women who are undergoing surgery for breast cancer.