DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

• Histologically or cytologically confirmed adenocarcinoma of the breast of 1 of the following stages:

  • Metastatic disease (stage IV)
  • Inoperable locally advanced disease
• At least 1 unidimensionally measurable lesion ≥ 20 mm by conventional techniques OR ≥ 10 mm by spiral CT scan

• Progressive disease, defined by 1 of the following:

  • Progressive disease after 1 prior endocrine therapy for metastatic breast cancer, including a selective estrogen receptor modulator (SERM) (e.g., tamoxifen or toremifene) OR an aromatase inhibitor (AI) (e.g., anastrazole, letrozole or exemestane)
  • Relapsed while receiving adjuvant therapy with a SERM or an AI
  • Relapsed within 6 months of completing adjuvant therapy with a SERM or an AI

• No rapidly progressive, life-threatening metastases, including any of the following:

  • Extensive hepatic involvement (> 50% involvement of the liver)
  • Symptomatic lymphangitic metastases
  • Brain or leptomeningeal involvement

• Hormone receptor status:

  • Estrogen receptor- and/or progesterone receptor-positive disease

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

Age

• 18 and over

Sex

• Female

Menopausal status

• Postmenopausal, defined as 1 of the following:

  • At least 12 months without spontaneous menstrual bleeding
  • Prior bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy with or without hysterectomy
  • At least 55 years of age with a prior hysterectomy with or without oophorectomy
  • Under 55 years of age with a prior hysterectomy without oophorectomy OR unknown status AND documented follicle-stimulating hormone levels consistent with postmenopausal range within the past 4 weeks
  • Receiving a GnRH analog to suppress ovarian function (e.g., goserelin 3.6 mg every 4 weeks)

Performance status

• ECOG 0-2 OR
• Karnofsky 60-100%

Life expectancy

• More than 3 months

Hematopoietic

• WBC ≥ 3,000/mm^3
• Absolute neutrophil count ≥ 1,500/mm^3
• Platelet count ≥ 100,000/mm^3

Hepatic

• See Disease Characteristics
• Bilirubin ≤ 2 mg/dL
• AST and ALT ≤ 2.5 times upper limit of normal (ULN)

Renal

• Creatinine ≤ 1.5 times ULN

Cardiovascular

• No symptomatic congestive heart failure
• No unstable angina pectoris
• No arrhythmia

Other

• No prior allergic reaction attributed to compounds of similar chemical or biological composition to tipifarnib or other study agents (e.g., imidazoles or quinolones)
• No peripheral neuropathy ≥ grade 2
• No ongoing or active infection
• No other invasive malignancy within the past 5 years except curatively treated basal cell or squamous cell skin cancer or carcinoma in situ of the cervix
• No psychiatric illness or social situation that would preclude study compliance
• No other concurrent uncontrolled illness

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

Biologic therapy

• Not specified

Chemotherapy

• No prior chemotherapy for metastatic disease

  • Prior adjuvant or neoadjuvant chemotherapy is allowed

Endocrine therapy

• See Disease Characteristics

• At least 28 days since prior fulvestrant

  • Only 1 prior dose allowed
• Concurrent gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) analog allowed provided progressive disease occurred while on a GnRH analog and a SERM or an AI
• No concurrent SERM or AI

Radiotherapy

• More than 4 weeks since prior radiotherapy

Surgery

• Not specified

Other

• Recovered from prior therapy
• No prior farnesyltransferase inhibitors

• No other concurrent anticancer treatment

  • Concurrent bisphosphonates for bone metastases allowed
• No other concurrent investigational agents
• No concurrent combination antiretroviral therapy for HIV-positive patients