Celecoxib in Preventing Basal Cell Carcinoma in Patients With Basal Cell Nevus Syndrome

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: * Histologically confirmed basal cell carcinoma (BCC) * At least 5 prior BCCs AND * At least 4 BCCs within the past year * Meets diagnostic criteria for basal cell nevus syndrome (BCNS) * Any 1 of the following: * More than 2 BCCs or 1 before age 20 * Histologically confirmed odontogenic keratocysts of the jaw * 3 or more palmar and/or plantar pits * Bilamellar calcification of the falx cerebri (if less than 20 years of age) * Fused, bifid, or markedly splayed ribs * First degree relative with BCNS * PTC gene mutation in normal tissue OR * Any 2 of the following: * Macrocephaly determined after adjustment for height * Congenital malformations (e.g., cleft lip or palate, frontal bossing, "coarse face", or moderate or severe hypertelorism) * Skeletal abnormalities (e.g., Sprengel deformity, marked pectus deformity, or marked syndactyly of the digits) * Radiological abnormalities (e.g., bridging of the sella turcica, vertebral anomalies, modeling defects of the hands and feet, or flame-shaped lucencies of the hands or feet) * Ovarian fibroma * Medulloblastoma PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: Age: * 18 to 75 Performance status: * Not specified Life expectancy: * Not specified Hematopoietic: * WBC greater than 3,000/mm\^3 * Platelet count greater than 125,000/mm\^3 * Hemoglobin greater than 12.0 g/dL (women) * Hemoglobin greater than 13.0 g/dL (men) * No significant coagulation defect Hepatic: * Bilirubin normal * ALT/AST no greater than 1.5 times upper limit of normal (ULN) * No chronic or acute hepatic disorder Renal: * Creatinine no greater than 1.5 times ULN * BUN normal * Electrolytes within normal * No chronic or acute renal disorder Cardiovascular: * No congestive heart failure Gastrointestinal: * No active gastrointestinal disease * No inflammatory bowel disease * No chronic or acute pancreatic disorder * No history of gastrointestinal ulceration allowed except with permission of primary care physician * No esophageal, gastric, pyloric channel, or duodenal ulceration within the past 30 days * Stool hematest normal Other: * No prior invasive malignancy within the past 5 years except nonmelanoma skin cancer, stage I cervical cancer, stage 0 chronic lymphoblastic leukemia, or medulloblastoma * No hypersensitivity to COX-2 inhibitors, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), salicylates, or sulfonamides * No other condition that would preclude study involvement * Not pregnant or nursing * Negative pregnancy test * Fertile patients must use effective contraception PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY: Biologic therapy: * Not specified Chemotherapy: * At least 2 weeks since prior topical agents as chemoprevention * At least 1 year since other prior chemotherapy Endocrine therapy: * At least 1 month since prior oral or IV corticosteroids * At least 6 months since prior inhaled corticosteroid use for longer than 4 weeks * At least 2 weeks since prior topical glucocorticoids * No concurrent topical glucocorticoids * Concurrent oral and IV corticosteroid use of less than 2 weeks within 6 months allowed * Concurrent inhaled corticosteroid use of less than 4 weeks within 6 months allowed Radiotherapy: * Not specified Surgery: * Not specified Other: * At least 2 weeks since prior topical retinoids or alpha-hydroxy acids (e.g., glycolic acid or lactic acid) * At least 2 weeks since prior topical medications * At least 30 days since prior investigational agents * At least 2 months since prior NSAIDs given more than 3 times/week * At least 2 months since prior aspirin dose of more than 100 mg/day given more than 3 times/week * At least 6 months since prior oral retinoids * No concurrent chronic NSAIDs (more than 3 times per week for at least 2 weeks) * No concurrent aspirin dose of more than 100 mg/day * No concurrent topical medications * No concurrent fluconazole * No concurrent lithium * No concurrent retinoids (including topical administration) or alpha-hydroxy acids * No other concurrent investigational agents