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