Celecoxib in Treating Women With Metastatic or Recurrent Breast Cancer

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