Temperature-Sensitive Liposomal Doxorubicin and Hyperthermia in Treating Women With Locally Recurrent Breast Cancer

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: * Histologically confirmed adenocarcinoma of the breast * Locally recurrent disease involving the chest wall and/or its overlying skin * Clinically and biopsy proven disease on the chest wall area measuring ≥ 1 cm * Overall surface extent of tumor ≤ two 16 x 16 cm fields * Tumor thickness ≤ 3 cm by clinical exam and CT scan or MRI * Disease extent on the chest wall that exceeds the above criteria allowed provided no other local therapies are available * Patients with axillary disease involvement only must meet the above criteria in order to be eligible * Prior skin changes consistent with inflammatory breast cancer are allowed * Distant metastasis (excluding known brain metastases) allowed * No resectable chest wall recurrence as the only site of metastatic disease * No refractory pain secondary to metastatic disease * Must have undergone prior local radiotherapy to the chest wall or breast in the adjuvant or metastatic setting * Must have progressed on ≥ 1 course of hormonal therapy for metastatic disease (if tumor is estrogen receptor positive or progesterone receptor positive) AND ≥ 1 course of chemotherapy * Prior contralateral breast malignancy allowed provided not previously treated with chemotherapy * Hormone receptor status not specified PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: * Female * Menopausal status not specified * Zubrod performance status 0-1 OR Karnofsky performance status 90-100% * Not pregnant * Negative pregnan…