DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

• Histologically or cytologically confirmed malignant tumor of 1 of the following types:

  • Carcinoma
  • Sarcoma
  • Melanoma
  • Lymphoma
• Metastatic or unresectable disease

• Clear evidence of residual disease after most recent prior treatment

  • Measurable disease not required
• Patient has elected to receive supportive care only rather than active cancer treatment (e.g., palliative chemotherapy)

• Brain metastases allowed provided the following criteria are met:

  • Completed treatment for CNS disease (e.g., whole brain radiotherapy, surgery, or stereotactic surgery)
  • Clinically stable disease for at least 4 weeks after treatment completion
  • No requirement for corticosteroids

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

Age

• 18 and over

Performance status

• ECOG 0-3

Life expectancy

• Not specified

Hematopoietic

• Not specified

Hepatic

• Bilirubin ≤ 2 times upper limit of normal (ULN)
• ALT and AST ≤ 5 times ULN

Renal

• Creatinine ≤ 1.6 mg/dL

Cardiovascular

• No myocardial infarction within the past 6 months
• No transient ischemic attack within the past 6 months
• No stroke within the past 6 months
• No angina pectoris requiring medical therapy
• No other active coronary artery disease or cerebrovascular disease

Other

• No active gastrointestinal (GI) ulcer disease
• No GI bleeding
• No history of allergic reaction, urticaria, or bronchospasm after taking NSAIDs, aspirin, or sulfonamide drugs
• Not pregnant or nursing
• Negative pregnancy test
• Fertile patients must use effective contraception

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

Biologic therapy

• Concurrent hematopoietic growth factors for cytopenia or fatigue allowed
• No concurrent biologic anticancer agents

Chemotherapy

• See Disease Characteristics

Endocrine therapy

• See Disease Characteristics
• No concurrent corticosteroids for management of cancer-related symptoms or other illness

• No concurrent hormonal therapy

  • Concurrent luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone therapy allowed for prostate cancer patients provided drug was initiated at least 6 months ago AND there is unequivocal evidence of progressive disease, defined by 1 of the following criteria:

    • Rising prostate-specific antigen (PSA) on 3 successive measurements
    • Rising PSA on 2 measurements taken at least 2 weeks apart
    • New lesions on bone scan

Radiotherapy

• See Disease Characteristics

Surgery

• See Disease Characteristics

Other

• Concurrent bisphosphonates for management of osseous metastases or hypercalcemia allowed
• No concurrent cytotoxic drugs
• No other concurrent nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) or aspirin