Clinical Research Directory

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: * Histologically confirmed infiltrating ductal breast cancer by core needle biopsy * Mixed ductal and lobular disease allowed * Infiltrating lobular cancer allowed in the run-in portion only * Unresected, clinically measurable disease, meeting 1 of the following clinical staging criteria: * T2, T3, or T4 lesion, any N, M0 * T1c, N1-3,M0 * Patients with skin metastases to the ipsilateral breast for whom chemotherapy is planned prior to definitive surgery are eligible for the primary study portion * HER2-negative disease * Hormone receptor status\* meeting 1 of the following criteria: * Estrogen receptor (ER)-negative and progesterone receptor (PR)-negative * ER-positive (grade II or III) and PR-positive or PR-negative NOTE: \*Any ER or PR status for the run-in portion PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: * ECOG performance status 0-1 * Menopausal status not specified * ANC ≥ 1,500/mm³ * Platelet count ≥ 150,000/mm³ * Hemoglobin ≥ 9 g/dL * Creatinine ≤ 1.5 times the upper limit of normal (ULN) * Creatinine clearance ≥ 50 mL/min * Total bilirubin normal * AST(SGOT) and ALT(SGPT) ≤ 2.5 times (ULN) * alkaline phosphatase ≤ 2.5 times ULN * PT such that INR ≤ 1.5 (or an in-range INR, usually between 2 and 3, if a patient is on a stable dose of therapeutic warfarin) and PTT ≤ ULN * Adequate cardiac function defined as no evidence of PR prolongation or AV block on baseline electrocardiogram (ECG) * Willing to use effective, non-hormonal contraception while on treatment and for at least 3 months thereafter * Not pregnant or nursing * No pre-existing peripheral neuropathy ≥ grade 2 * No history of severe hypersensitivity reaction to any drug formulated with polysorbate 80 or to E. coli-derived products * No history of allergic reactions attributed to compounds of similar chemical or biologic composition to vorinostat * No medical condition which, in the opinion of the investigator, puts the patient at risk of potentially serious complications while on this therapy PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY: * At least 4 weeks since prior valproic acid or other histone deacetylase inhibitor * No prior chemotherapy, radiotherapy, or endocrine therapy for this cancer * Prior tamoxifen or raloxifene or another agent for prevention of breast cancer allowed as long as the patient has discontinued the treatment ≥ 1 month prior to baseline study biopsy * No systemic treatment for prior cancer within the past 5 years (primary study portion) * No prior or ongoing systemic treatment for this cancer (primary study portion) * No concurrent combination antiretroviral therapy for HIV-positive patients * No other concurrent histone deacetylase inhibitor * No other concurrent chemotherapy, antiestrogen therapy, radiotherapy, or other investigational systemic therapy * No other concurrent biologic therapy * No other concurrent investigational drugs