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