This randomized phase III trial studies how well doxorubicin hydrochloride and cyclophosphamide followed by paclitaxel with or without carboplatin work in treating patients with triple-negative breast cancer. Drugs used in chemotherapy, such as doxorubicin hydrochloride, cyclophosphamide, paclitaxel, and carboplatin, work in different ways to stop the growth of tumor cells, either by killing the cells, by stopping them from dividing, or by stopping them from spreading. It is not yet known whether doxorubicin hydrochloride and cyclophosphamide is more effective when followed by paclitaxel alone or paclitaxel and carboplatin in treating triple-negative breast cancer. Eligibility includes being at least 18 years old and:
•The tumor must be unilateral invasive adenocarcinoma of the breast on histologic examination
primary tumor must be pT1-3 * By pathologic evaluation, ipsilateral nodes must be pN0, pN1 (pN1mi, pN1a, pN1b, pN1c), pN2a, pN2b, pN3a, or pN3b * If pN0, pathological tumor must be >= 3.0 cm
ER-negative and PgR- negative by ASCO/CAP guidelines, OR * ER or PgR stains are positive in 1-9% of cells and neither is positive in >= 10% of cells
•The tumor must have been determined to be human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)-negative
•The patient must have undergone either a mastectomy (total, skin-sparing, or nipple-sparing) or lumpectomy
•The interval between the last surgery for breast cancer (including re-excision of margins) and randomization must be no more than 60 days
