Combination Chemotherapy Followed by Peripheral Stem Cell Transplantation in Treating Women With Metastatic Breast Cancer

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: Histologically confirmed metastatic breast cancer that has demonstrated at least partial response to any salvage regimen Partial response defined as at least 50% reduction in measurable or evaluable disease for at least 4 weeks, no disease progression, no new lesions, or bone lesions that remain static for at least 8 weeks with an improvement in pain symptoms No more than 3 organs involved with metastatic disease No prior or active CNS involvement Hormone receptor status: Not specified

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: Age: 18 to 64 Sex: Female Menopausal status: Not specified Performance status: ECOG 0-1 Life expectancy: Not specified Hematopoietic: Not specified Hepatic: Bilirubin no greater than 2.0 mg/dL SGOT or SGPT no greater than 2.5 times upper limit of normal No history of severe hepatic dysfunction Renal: Creatinine no greater than 2.0 mg/dL OR Creatinine clearance at least 60 mL/min Cardiovascular: No severe cardiac dysfunction Ejection fraction at least 50% by MUGA No major heart disease Controlled hypertension allowed Pulmonary: DLCO at least 50% of normal OR No symptomatic obstructive or restrictive disease Other: Not pregnant or nursing Negative pregnancy test Fertile patients must use effective barrier contraception No uncontrolled insulin dependent diabetes mellitus No uncompensated major thyroid or adrenal dysfunction No significant skin breakdown from tumor or other disease No other prior malignancy in past 5 years except nonmelanoma skin cancer or carcinoma in situ of the cervix No active infections HIV negative

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY: Biologic therapy: Not specified Chemotherapy: See Disease Characteristics No more than 2 prior salvage regimens for metastatic disease No prior topotecan Endocrine therapy: Not specified Radiotherapy: Not specified Surgery: Not specified Other: No concurrent nitroglycerin preparations for angina No concurrent antiarrhythmics for major ventricular arrhythmias