Celecoxib in Treating Women With Metastatic or Recurrent Breast Cancer

You may be eligible if

• DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:
• Histologically confirmed invasive breast cancer
• * Metastatic or recurrent disease documented by physical or radiographic examination
• * Isolated recurrence of breast cancer not considered eligible
• * Bone disease alone allowed
• At least 4 prior courses (or 4 months) of chemotherapy resulting in stable disease, partial response, or complete response
• Treated brain metastases allowed provided all of the following conditions are met:
• * Palliation achieved without evidence of progression for at least 3 months after completion of radiotherapy and/or surgical treatment
• * At least 30 days since prior dexamethasone or other corticosteroids
• * Documentation of another site of metastatic disease (in addition to brain metastases)
• Measurable or evaluable disease
• Pleural or peritoneal effusion as only manifestation of disease allowed if palliated by prior chemotherapy
• Hormone receptor status:
• * Not specified
• PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:
• Age
• 18 and over
• Sex
• Female
• Menopausal status
• Not specified
• Performance status
• CTC (ECOG) 0-2
• Life expectancy
• Not specified
• Hematopoietic
• WBC at least 3,000/mm\^3
• Absolute neutrophil count at least 1,000/mm\^3
• Platelet count at least 100,000/mm\^3
• Hepatic
• Bilirubin no greater than 1.5 times upper limit of normal (ULN)
• AST or ALT no greater than 2.5 times ULN (5 times ULN if liver metastases present)
• Albumin at least 3.0 g/dL
• Renal
• Creatinine no greater than 1.5 times ULN
• Other
• Not pregnant or nursing
• Fertile patients must use effective contraception
• No other active malignancy within the past 2 years except nonmelanoma skin cancer
• No active peptic ulcer disease
• No known hypersensitivity to sulfonamides, aspirin, or other NSAIDs, including celecoxib
• PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:
• Biologic therapy
• Concurrent trastuzumab (Herceptin) allowed if initiated at least 3 months prior to study entry
• Chemotherapy
• See Disease Characteristics
• At least 6 weeks since prior chemotherapy
• No more than 2 prior chemotherapy regimens for recurrent or metastatic disease
• Endocrine therapy
• See Disease Characteristics
• Prior hormonal therapy for metastatic disease allowed
• No concurrent hormonal therapy except hormones for noncancer-related conditions (e.g., insulin for diabetes)
• Radiotherapy
• See Disease Characteristics
• At least 4 weeks since prior radiotherapy
• Prior radiotherapy to the breast and for metastatic disease allowed
• No concurrent palliative radiotherapy
• Surgery
• See Disease Characteristics
• Other
• Prior adjuvant therapy for metastatic disease allowed
• Concurrent bisphosphonates allowed
• Concurrent low-dose aspirin (no greater than 325 mg/day) is allowed
• No other concurrent therapy with celecoxib or other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) (e.g., rofecoxib, aspirin, choline magnesium trisalicylate, ibuprofen, naproxen, etodolac, oxaprozin, diflunisal, nabumetone, or tolmetin)
• No concurrent fluconazole