OUTLINE: This is a randomized, open-label, multicenter study. Patients are stratified according to estrogen receptor (ER)/progesterone receptor (PgR) status (ER positive vs ER negative/PgR positive vs ER positive/PgR unknown), prior chemotherapy (none vs taxane-based vs anthracycline-based vs other), and nodal status (negative vs 1-3 nodes positive vs 4 or more nodes positive). Patients are randomized to 1 of 2 treatment arms.