DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: Histologically confirmed breast cancer Stage II with greater than 3 positive axillary lymph nodes following standard induction chemotherapy, as well as surgery and/or radiation as clinically indicated Stage III following standard induction chemotherapy with an anthracycline based regimen, and surgery and/or radiation as clinically indicated Inflammatory carcinoma following standard induction chemotherapy with an anthracycline based regimen, and surgery and/or radiation as clinically indicated Stage IV metastatic disease that has demonstrated a complete response to an anthracycline containing regimen, or no evidence of disease after surgery or radiation Hormone receptor status: Not specified

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: Age: 64 and under Sex: Female Menopausal status: Not specified Performance status: ECOG 0-1 Life expectancy: Not specified Hematopoietic: Not specified Hepatic: Bilirubin no greater than 2.0 mg/dL SGOT/SGPT no greater than 2.5 times upper limit of normal No history of severe hepatic dysfunction Renal: Creatinine no greater than 2.0 mg/dL OR Creatinine clearance at least 60 mL/min Cardiovascular: No evidence of severe cardiac dysfunction Ejection fraction at least 50% by MUGA No major heart disease Essential hypertension controlled with medications allowed Pulmonary: DLCO at least 50% of normal No symptomatic obstructive or restrictive pulmonary disease Other: Not pregnant or nursing Negative pregnancy test Fertile patients must use effective contraception No psychosocial disorder that would preclude study compliance No concurrent active infections No insulin dependent diabetes mellitus No uncompensated major thyroid or adrenal dysfunction No significant skin breakdown from tumor or other disease HIV negative

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY: Biologic therapy: Not specified Chemotherapy: See Disease Characteristics Prior total dose of doxorubicin or daunorubicin less than 450 mg/m2 unless endometrial biopsy shows less than grade 2 drug effect Endocrine therapy: Not specified Radiotherapy: See Disease Characteristics Surgery: See Disease Characteristics Other: No concurrent nitroglycerin preparations for angina pectoris No concurrent antiarrhythmic drugs for major ventricular dysrrhythmias