Abraxane and Lapatinib in Treating Patients With Stage I, Stage II, or Stage III Breast Cancer

RATIONALE: Drugs used in chemotherapy, such as Abraxane, work in different ways to stop the growth of tumor cells, either by killing the cells or by stopping them from dividing. Lapatinib may stop the growth of tumor cells by blocking some of the enzymes needed for their growth. Giving Abraxane together with lapatinib may kill more tumor cells. PURPOSE: This phase II trial is studying how well giving Abraxane together with lapatinib works in treating patients with stage I, stage II, or stage III breast cancer.