S0511, Goserelin and Anastrozole in Treating Men With Recurrent or Metastatic Breast Cancer

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: * Histologically or cytologically confirmed breast cancer * Recurrent or metastatic (stage IV) disease * Patients with a local regional recurrence, including axillary and/or chest wall involvement, are eligible * Measurable or non-measurable disease * Brain metastases allowed provided they have been treated with surgery or radiotherapy AND have remained stable for ≥ 3 months * Hormone receptor status: * Estrogen receptor- OR progesterone receptor- positive disease by standard immunohistochemical techniques PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: Age * 18 and over Sex * Male Performance status * Zubrod 0-2 Life expectancy * Not specified Hematopoietic * Not specified Hepatic * No evidence of severe or uncontrolled hepatic disease Renal * No evidence of severe or uncontrolled renal disease Cardiovascular * No evidence of severe or uncontrolled cardiac disease Pulmonary * No evidence of severe or uncontrolled respiratory disease Other * Fertile patients must use effective barrier-method contraception during and for 12 weeks after the completion of study treatment * No known HIV positivity * Able to receive oral medication * Patients with a gastrointestinal tube are eligible * No known hypersensitivity to luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone (LHRH), LHRH agonist analogues, or any components of the study drugs * No active infection requiring systemic therapy * No other malignancy within the past 5 years except adequately treated basal cell or squamous cell skin cancer * No evidence of other severe or uncontrolled systemic disease PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY: Biologic therapy * No concurrent prophylactic filgrastim (G-CSF) or other hematopoietic growth factors Chemotherapy * At least 14 days since prior chemotherapy for this cancer and recovered * No more than 1 prior chemotherapy regimen for metastatic disease * No concurrent chemotherapy Endocrine therapy * At least 14 days since prior hormonal therapy for this cancer and recovered * Prior tamoxifen allowed * No prior gonadotropin-releasing hormone antagonist, aromatase inhibitors, or fulvestrant * No other concurrent hormonal therapy (e.g., estrogen-based therapies) Radiotherapy * See Disease Characteristics * At least 14 days since prior radiotherapy for this cancer and recovered * No concurrent radiotherapy Surgery * See Disease Characteristics