Please select the eligibility criteria that correspond to the clinical trial below.
Title: A Randomized Trial Comparing the Safety and Efficacy of Adriamycin and Cyclophosphamide Followed by Taxol (AC-T) to That of Adriamycin and Cyclophosphamide Followed by Taxol Plus Herceptin (AC-T+H) in Node-Positive Breast Cancer Patients Who Have Tumors That Overexpress HER2
Brief Summary: RATIONALE: Drugs used in chemotherapy, such as doxorubicin, cyclophosphamide, and paclitaxel, use different ways to stop tumor cells from dividing so they stop growing or die. Monoclonal antibodies such as trastuzumab can locate tumor cells and either kill them or deliver tumor-killing substances to them without harming normal cells. It is not yet known whether combination chemotherapy plus trastuzumab is more effective than combination chemotherapy alone for treating breast cancer.

PURPOSE: This randomized phase III trial is studying how well giving combination chemotherapy together with trastuzumab works compared to combination chemotherapy alone in treating women with node-positive stage II or stage IIIA breast cancer that overexpresses HER2.


Options:
A: Inclusion Criteria:

* Required tumor parameters for node positive disease: NOTE: This study will continue to use the American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) 5th edition for TNM classification and staging

  * Operable, histologically confirmed adenocarcinoma of the female breast and positive lymph nodes

    * Node positivity may be determined by either an axillary node dissection or a positive sentinel node finding by hematoxylin and eosin (H\&E)

      * NOTE: Positive nodes refers to H\&E visible nodal metastases; immunohistochemistry (IHC) positive only cells in lymph nodes will not be considered positive nodes
    * One or more positive lymph nodes whose tumors are T1-3, pN1-2, M0 are eligible
    * cN2 disease is not eligible
    * pN2 disease is eligible
    * One positive lymph node by sentinel node biopsy or at least 6 axillary nodes must be examined on axillary node dissection with at least one positive lymph node
    * Metaplastic carcinoma is eligible
  * ER/PgR determination
  * HER-2 positive (pre-entry requirement for registration)

    * FISH must show gene amplification OR
    * IHC assay must show a strong positive (3+) staining score

      * NOTE: ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) components should not be counted in the determination of degree of IHC staining or FISH amplification
* Required tumor parameters for high-risk node-negative disease; NOTE: This study will continue to use the AJCC 5th edition for TNM classification and staging

  * Operable, histologically confirmed adenocarcinoma of the female breast and negative lymph nodes

    * Node status may be determined by either axillary node dissection or sentinel node biopsy with H\&E staining; to be considered node negative, either of the following must be true: 1) negative sentinel node biopsy or 2) no positive lymph nodes found among at least 6 axillary nodes examined on axillary node dissection
    * NOTE: IHC positive only cells in lymph nodes will not be considered positive nodes
    * Tumors \> 2.0 cm (irrespective of hormonal receptor status) or \> 1.0 cm if ER-negative and PR-negative disease
  * ER/PgR determination
  * HER-2 positive (pre-entry requirement for registration)

    * FISH must show gene amplification OR
    * IHC assay must show a strong positive (3+) staining score

      * NOTE: DCIS components should not be counted in the determination of degree of IHC staining or FISH amplification
* =\< 84 days from mastectomy or =\< 84 days from axillary dissection or sentinel node detection if the patient's most extensive breast surgery was a breast sparing procedure; (This timing is per a decision by the Breast Intergroup)
* Surgical resection margins. All tumor should be removed by either a modified radical mastectomy or a segmental mastectomy with axillary node dissection

  * Mastectomy: There will be no evidence of gross or microscopic tumor (invasive or DCIS) at the surgical resection margins noted in the final surgery or pathology reports; patients with close margins are eligible
  * Segmental mastectomy (lumpectomy): Margins must be clear of invasive cancer and DCIS
  * Axillary dissection or sentinel node dissection: There will be no gross residual adenopathy
* TAM therapy

  * May have received up to four weeks of TAM therapy, or any other hormonal agent, for this malignancy
  * May have received TAM or raloxifene for purposes of chemoprevention (e.g., Breast Cancer Prevention Trial) or for other indications (including previous breast cancer if lobular carcinoma in situ \[LCIS\]) but must be discontinued before registration on this study
  * May never have received TAM, raloxifene, or any other hormonal agent
* Absolute neutrophil count (ANC) \>= 1500/mm\^3
* Platelets (PLT) \>= 100,000/mm\^3
* Total bilirubin =\< 1.5 x upper normal limit (UNL)
* Aspartate aminotransferase (AST) =\< 2.0 x UNL
* Left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) within institutional normal range; if LVEF is \> 75%, the investigator should consider performing a second review of the multigated acquisition (MUGA)/echocardiogram or performing a repeat MUGA/echocardiogram prior to registration; such re-reviews or repeat MUGA/echocardiogram are not permitted after registration
* Willingness to discontinue sex hormonal therapy, e.g., birth control pills, ovarian hormonal replacement therapy, etc., prior to registration and while on study
* Willingness to discontinue any hormonal agent such as raloxifene (Evista) prior to registration and while on study
* Non-breast malignancies that have not recurred within the last 5 years and are deemed to be at low risk for recurrence

EXCEPTIONS: These non-breast malignancies are eligible even if diagnosed =\< 5 years prior to registration:

* Squamous or basal cell carcinoma of the skin that has been effectively treated
* Carcinoma in situ of the cervix that has been treated by surgery only
* Lobular carcinoma in situ (LCIS) of the ipsilateral or contralateral breast treated by surgery and/or tamoxifen only

  * Patients undergoing breast conservation therapy (i.e., lumpectomy and axillary dissection) must have plans to receive radiation therapy to the breast +/- regional lymphatics following completion of the chemotherapy; for patients treated with mastectomy, the use of radiation therapy is required for 4 or more positive lymph nodes and must be started after completion of chemotherapy; the use of radiation therapy is at the discretion of the investigator for 0-3 positive lymph nodes but, if used, must be started after the completion of chemotherapy
  * Prior to registration, the physician must designate if it is planned for the patient to receive radiation therapy (for adjuvant radiation therapy post-mastectomy or, less commonly, post-conservative therapy but not primary breast radiation as part of breast conserving treatment)
  * Willing and able to sign an informed consent
  * Gene amplified by FISH or strong positivity (3+) by HercepTest on central review; Note: The patient registers based on community HER-2 testing using FISH or IHC, AC chemotherapy is initiated; the tumor block or slides must be received =\< 2 weeks from time of registration to the North Central Cancer Treatment Group (NCCTG) Operations Office for central HER-2 testing

Exclusion Criteria:

* Any of the following:

  * Pregnant women
  * Nursing women
  * Women of childbearing potential or their sexual partners who are unwilling to employ adequate contraception (condoms, diaphragm, intrauterine device \[IUD\], surgical sterilization, or abstinence, etc.); hormonal birth control methods are not permitted
* Locally advanced tumors (classification T4) at diagnosis including tumors fixed to chest wall, peau d'orange, skin ulcerations/nodules, or clinical inflammatory changes (diffuse brawny cutaneous induration with an erysipeloid edge)
* Prior history of breast cancer, except LCIS
* Bilateral invasive carcinoma, either metachronous or synchronous (EXCEPTION: Patients diagnosed with unilateral invasive carcinoma and metachronous or synchronous DCIS of the contralateral breast treated with mastectomy are eligible)
* Prior chemotherapy, radiation therapy, immunotherapy, or biotherapy for breast cancer
* Active, unresolved infection
* Active cardiac disease

  * Any prior myocardial infarction
  * History of documented congestive heart failure (CHF)
  * Current use of digitalis or beta-blockers for CHF
  * Any prior history of arrhythmia or cardiac valvular disease requiring medications or clinically significant
  * Current use of medications for treatment of arrhythmias or angina pectoris
  * Current uncontrolled hypertension (diastolic \> 100 mmHg or systolic \> 200 mmHg)
  * Clinically significant pericardial effusion
* Prior anthracycline or taxane therapy for any malignancy
* Sensitivity to benzyl alcohol
* Neurology/Neuropathy-Sensory \>= grade 2 per the National Cancer Institute's (NCI's) Common Toxicity Criteria Version 2.0; EXCEPTION: Any chronic neurologic disorder will be looked at on a case-by-case basis by the study chair
B: Inclusion criteria

* The patient must have a life expectancy of at least 10 years, excluding her diagnosis of breast cancer. (Comorbid conditions should be taken into consideration, but not the diagnosis of breast cancer.)
* The interval between the last surgery for breast cancer treatment (lumpectomy, mastectomy, axillary dissection, or re-excision of lumpectomy margins) and randomization must be less than or equal to 84 days.
* All of the following staging criteria must be met:

  * Primary tumor must be T1-3 by clinical and pathologic evaluation.
  * Ipsilateral nodes must be cN0-1 by clinical evaluation.
  * Ipsilateral nodes must be pN1, pN2a, or pN3a by pathologic evaluation.
  * M0
* Patients must have undergone either a total mastectomy and an axillary dissection or a lumpectomy and an axillary dissection. Sentinel node biopsy is permitted, but must be followed by an axillary dissection.
* The tumor must be invasive adenocarcinoma on histologic examination.
* The tumor must be determined to be HER2-positive prior to randomization. Assays performed using fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH) require gene amplification to be eligible. Assays using immunohistochemistry (IHC) must be performed at an NSABP-approved reference laboratory and require a strongly positive staining score.
* Patients must have an analysis of both estrogen and progesterone receptors performed on the primary tumor prior to randomization. "Marginal," "borderline," etc., results (i.e., those not definitely negative) will also be considered positive regardless of the methodology used.
* At the time of randomization, the patient must have had the following: history and physical exam, EKG, and PA and lateral chest x-ray within the past 3 months; and a bilateral mammogram (or unilateral if patient has had a mastectomy) and a pelvic exam (for women who have a uterus and who will be taking tamoxifen) within the past year.
* Within 3 months prior to entry, the patient must have a baseline left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) measured by MUGA scan equal to or greater than the lower limit of normal for the radiology facility. (If LVEF is \> 75%, the investigator should consider having the LVEF determination reviewed prior to randomization. Following randomization, the LVEF determination may be reviewed up until the time of the post-AC MUGA. Please note that if a more accurate value is obtained from the review of the baseline MUGA, the corrected value must be submitted to the NSABP Biostatistical Center before the post-AC MUGA is performed.)
* At the time of randomization:

  * The postoperative absolute neutrophil count (ANC) must be ≥ 1500/mm3 (or \<1500/mm3 if, in the opinion of the investigator, this represents an ethnic or racial variation of normal).
  * Postoperative platelet count must be ≥ 100,000/mm3. Significant underlying hematologic disorders must be excluded when the platelet count is above the upper limit of normal for the lab.
* There must be postoperative evidence of adequate hepatic function, i.e., total bilirubin must be ≤ ULN for the lab unless the patient has a chronic grade 1 bilirubin elevation (\>ULN to ≤1.5 x ULN) due to Gilbert's disease or similar syndrome; and alkaline phosphatase must be \<2.5 times the ULN for the lab; and the serum glutamic-oxaloacetic transaminase (SGOT \[AST\]) must be \<1.5 times the ULN for the lab.
* There must be postoperative evidence of adequate renal function (serum creatinine within or less than the institution's normal range).
* Patients must have no clinical or radiologic evidence of metastatic disease. Suspicious findings must be confirmed as benign by radiologic evaluation or biopsy. A patient with skeletal pain is eligible for inclusion in the study if bone scan and/or roentgenological examination fails to disclose metastatic disease.
* Patients with a history of non-breast malignancies are eligible if they have been disease-free for 5 or more years prior to randomization and are deemed by their physician to be at low risk for recurrence. Patients with the following cancers are eligible if diagnosed and treated within the past 5 years: carcinoma in situ of the cervix, melanoma in situ, and basal cell and squamous cell carcinoma of the skin.
* Prior to randomization, the investigator must designate whether the patients who had a lumpectomy will receive local or locoregional radiation therapy. For patients who had a mastectomy, the investigator must designate whether or not the patient will receive radiation therapy. (Pre-randomization discussion and/or consultation with a radiation oncologist is encouraged.) Note: Irradiation of any internal mammary nodes is prohibited in this trial.
* Special conditions for eligibility of lumpectomy patients: irradiation and surgery
* Patients treated by lumpectomy and axillary node dissection to be followed by breast radiation therapy must meet all the eligibility criteria in addition to the following: Generally, lumpectomy should be reserved for tumors \<5 cm. However, at the investigator's discretion, patients treated with lumpectomy for tumors ≥ 5 cm are eligible. The margins of the resected specimen must be histologically free of invasive tumor and DCIS as determined by the local pathologist. In patients in whom pathologic examination demonstrates tumor present at the line of resection, additional operative procedures may be performed to obtain clear margins. This is permissible even if axillary dissection has been performed. Patients in whom tumor is still present at the resected margin after re-excision(s) must undergo total mastectomy to be eligible. Whole breast irradiation is required. Irradiation of regional lymph nodes is optional, but partial breast irradiation and irradiation of any internal mammary nodes are prohibited in this trial. Intent to irradiate the axilla or other regional node groups must be declared by the investigator prior to randomization for stratification purposes.
* Special conditions for eligibility of mastectomy patients: irradiation. The decision to use locoregional irradiation in patients who have undergone total mastectomy and axillary node dissection must be declared by the investigator prior to randomization for stratification purposes. Failure to adhere to the radiation therapy plan will be a protocol violation.

Exclusion criteria

* Bilateral malignancy or a mass or mammographic abnormality in the opposite breast suspicious for malignancy unless there is biopsy proof that the mass is not malignant.
* Primary tumor staged as T4 for any reason.
* Nodes staged as clinical N2 or N3 for any reason and nodes staged as pathologic pN2b, pN3b, or pN3c.
* Prior history of breast cancer, including DCIS (patients with a history of lobular carcinoma in situ \[LCIS\] are eligible).
* Treatment including radiation therapy, chemotherapy, biotherapy, and/or hormonal therapy administered for the currently diagnosed breast cancer prior to randomization. The only exception is hormonal therapy, which may have been given for up to a total of 28 days anytime after diagnosis and before randomization. In such a case, hormonal therapy must stop at or before randomization and be re-started if indicated following chemotherapy.
* Prior anthracycline or taxane therapy for any malignancy.
* Any sex hormonal therapy, e.g., birth control pills, ovarian hormonal replacement therapy, etc. (These patients are eligible only if this therapy is discontinued prior to randomization.)
* Therapy with any hormonal agents such as raloxifene (Evista®), tamoxifen, or other selective estrogen receptor modulators (SERMs), either for osteoporosis or prevention. (Patients are eligible only if these medications are discontinued prior to randomization. These medications are not permitted while on the study except for the use of tamoxifen as described in the protocol)
* Nonmalignant systemic disease (cardiovascular, renal, hepatic, etc.) that would preclude a patient from being subjected to any of the treatment options or would prevent prolonged follow-up.
* Cardiac disease that would preclude the use of Adriamycin, Taxol or Herceptin. This includes:
* Active cardiac disease:

  * angina pectoris that requires the use of antianginal medication;
  * cardiac arrhythmia requiring medication;
  * severe conduction abnormality;
  * clinically significant valvular disease;
  * cardiomegaly on chest x-ray;
  * ventricular hypertrophy on EKG; or
  * patients with poorly controlled hypertension, i.e., diastolic greater than 100 mm/Hg. (Patients with hypertension who are well controlled on medication are eligible for entry.)
* History of cardiac disease:

  * myocardial infarction documented as a clinical diagnosis or by EKG or any other tests;
  * documented congestive heart failure; or
  * documented cardiomyopathy.
* Psychiatric or addictive disorders that would preclude obtaining informed consent.
* Pregnancy or lactation at the time of proposed randomization. This protocol excludes pregnant or lactating women based on the fetal toxicity of both tamoxifen and Taxol which are listed as Pregnancy Category D agents. Pregnant women who received tamoxifen have experienced fetal deaths, birth defects, spontaneous abortions, and vaginal bleeding. Women of reproductive potential must agree to use an effective barrier method of contraception. Hormonal birth control methods are not permitted.
* Sensory/motor neuropathy ≥ grade 2, as defined by the NCI's Common Toxicity Criteria version 2.0.
* Contraindications to corticosteroid use which, in the opinion of the investigator, would preclude participation in this study.
* Concurrent treatment with other investigational agents.
* Sensitivity to benzyl alcohol.
* Special conditions for ineligibility of lumpectomy patients: irradiation and surgery. For patients treated by lumpectomy with axillary dissection, breast irradiation is required. Please see guidelines for radiation therapy in Appendix A. In addition, the following patients will also be ineligible:

  * Patients with diffuse tumors (as demonstrated on mammography) that would not be considered surgically amenable to lumpectomy.
  * Patients treated with lumpectomy in whom there is another clinically dominant mass or mammographically suspicious abnormality within the ipsilateral breast remnant. Such a mass must be biopsied and demonstrated to be histologically benign prior to randomization or, if malignant, must be surgically removed with clear margins.
  * Patients in whom the margins of the resected specimen are involved with invasive tumor or ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS). Additional surgical resections to obtain free margins are allowed. Patients in whom tumor is still present after the additional resection(s) must undergo mastectomy to be eligible.
C: Inclusion Criteria:

* Non-metastatic primary invasive breast cancer overexpressing HER2 (determined by immunohistochemistry 3+ or positive fluorescence in situ hybridization test) that has been histologically confirmed, adequately excised, axillary node positive or negative, and tumor size at least T1c according to Tumor/Node/Metastasis (TNM) staging
* Completion of at least 4 cycles of (neo-)adjuvant systemic chemotherapy, definitive surgery, and radiotherapy, if applicable
* Known hormone receptor status
* Baseline left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) greater than or equal to (≥) 55 percent (%)

Exclusion Criteria:

* Prior invasive breast carcinoma
* Other malignancies except for curatively treated basal and squamous cell carcinoma of the skin or in situ carcinoma of the cervix
* Clinical T4 tumors
* Cumulative doxorubicin exposure greater than (\>) 360 milligrams per meter-squared (mg/m\^2) or epirubicin \>720 mg/m\^2 or any prior anthracyclines unrelated to the present breast cancer
* Peripheral stem cell or bone marrow stem cell support
* Prior mediastinal irradiation except for internal mammary node irradiation for the present breast cancer
* Non-irradiated internal mammary nodes or supraclavicular lymph node involvement
* Prior anti-HER2 therapy for any other reason or other prior biologic or immunotherapy for breast cancer
* Concurrent anti-cancer treatment in another investigational trial
* Serious cardiac or pulmonary conditions/illness, or any other conditions that could interfere with planned treatment
* Poor hematologic, hepatic, or renal function
* Pregnancy or lactation
* Women of childbearing potential or less than 1 year post-menopause unwilling to use adequate contraceptive measures
D: DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

* Diagnosis of infiltrating primary breast cancer

  * Stage I-IIIA disease
  * Resected tumor with free margins (i.e., no neoplastic cells on the resected margin)

    * Must have node-negative sentinel node or complete axillary clearance

      * Axillary clearance required for micrometastasis (between 0.2 and 2 mm) in the sentinel node but not for isolated tumor cells
    * Treatment is scheduled to begin within 10 weeks from the date of surgery

      * Date of the last surgery will be taken into account for patients undergoing re-excision of positive margins or axillary lymph node dissection after positive sentinel node biopsy
* Node positivity or node negativity AND ≥ 1 of the following:

  * T \> 2 cm
  * Grade 3
  * Presence of lymphovascular invasion
  * Ki 67 \> 20%
  * Age 35 years
  * Hormone receptor negativity (\<10%)
* HER2-positive tumor (3+ by IHC or FISH+ according to the American Society of Clinical Oncology guidelines \[i.e., \> 2.2; in case of polysomy, with ≥ 6 gene copies\])
* Estrogen receptor-positive and/or progesterone receptor-positive disease

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

* Female
* Pre- or postmenopausal status

  * Postmenopausal status defined by ≥ 1 of the following:

    * At least 60 years of age
    * Less than 60 years of age and amenorrheic for ≥ 12 months prior to day 1
    * Less than 60 years of age and amenorrheic for \< 12 months prior to day 1 with luteinizing hormone and follicle-stimulating hormone values within postmenopausal range OR without a uterus
    * Prior bilateral oophorectomy
    * Prior radiation castration with amenorrhea for ≥ 6 months
* ECOG performance status 0-1
* Suitable for adjuvant chemotherapy
* WBC \> 3,000/mcL
* ANC \> 1,500/mcL
* Platelet count \>100,000/mcL
* Total bilirubin normal
* AST and ALT 2.5 times upper limit of normal
* Creatinine normal
* Cardiac ejection fraction normal as measured by ECHO or MUGA scan
* Not pregnant or nursing
* Negative pregnancy test
* Fertile patients must use effective contraception during and for ≥ 3 months after completion of study therapy
* No contraindication to anthracycline, cyclophosphamide, fluorouracil, paclitaxel, or trastuzumab (Herceptin®) treatment
* No uncontrolled intercurrent illness including, but not limited to, the following:

  * Ongoing or active infection
  * Symptomatic congestive heart failure
  * Unstable angina pectoris
  * Cardiac arrhythmia
  * Psychiatric illness/social situations that would limit compliance with study requirements

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

* See Disease Characteristics
* See Patient Characteristics
* No prior chemotherapy, endocrine therapy, or radiotherapy
* No other concurrent investigational agents

Answer: B