Epothilone B in Treating Patients With CNS Metastases From Breast Cancer

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: * Histologically or cytologically confirmed carcinoma of the breast * CNS metastases (i.e., brain parenchymal lesions and/or leptomeningeal disease), meeting 1 of the following criteria: * Recurrent or progressive CNS metastases after whole brain radiotherapy * If only evaluable site of CNS progression has been previously treated with stereotactic radiosurgery, radiation necrosis must be excluded by radiographic (e.g., positron emission tomography scan or magnetic resonance spectroscopy) or histologic assessment * Newly diagnosed, untreated, asymptomatic brain or leptomeningeal metastases * Patient must be neurologically stable, as demonstrated by a stable dose of steroids and anticonvulsants for ≥ 1 week prior to obtaining baseline gadolinium-enhanced MRI of the brain and/or ≥ 1 week prior to beginning study treatment * No CNS complications requiring urgent neurosurgical intervention (e.g., resection or shunt placement) * Hormone receptor status not specified PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: * Male or female * Menopausal status not specified * Karnofsky performance status 60-100% * Life expectancy ≥ 3 months * Absolute neutrophil count \> 1,500/mm\^3 * Hemoglobin \> 9.0 g/dL * Platelet count \> 100,000/mm\^3 (red blood cell transfusion and repeat evaluation allowed) * Bilirubin \< 1.5 times upper limit of normal (ULN) * AST and ALT \< 2.5 times ULN * Alkaline phosphatase \< 2.5 times ULN * Creatinine \< 1.5 times ULN * Not pregnant or nursing * …