NOV-002, Doxorubicin, Cyclophosphamide, and Docetaxel in Women With Newly Diagnosed Stage II or IIIC Breast Cancer

RATIONALE: Oxidized glutathione (NOV-002) may stimulate the immune system in different ways and stop tumor cells from growing. Drugs used in chemotherapy, such as doxorubicin, cyclophosphamide, and docetaxel, work in different ways to stop the growth of tumor cells, either by killing the cells or by stopping them from dividing. Giving more than one drug (combination chemotherapy) may kill more tumor cells. Giving NOV-002 together with chemotherapy before surgery may make the tumor smaller and reduce the amount of normal tissue that needs to be removed. PURPOSE: This phase II trial is studying how well giving oxidized glutathione (NOV-002) together with doxorubicin and cyclophosphamide followed by docetaxel works in treating women with newly diagnosed stage II or stage III breast cancer.