Efficacy and Safety of Imatinib and Vinorelbine in Patients With Advanced Breast Cancer

Inclusion criteria:

* Histologically documented diagnosis of invasive breast cancer that is locally advanced or metastatic
* Previous anthracycline containing chemotherapy
* Presence of a certain protein on the cell surface (c-kit (CD117) and /or PDGF-receptor)
* Preferably tumor samples should be taken within 6 weeks of study entry. Most recent primary tumor tissue has to be available for analysis
* Acceptable health status (Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group \[ECOG\]-performance status 0,1, 2 or 3)

Exclusion criteria: (for the second-line therapy)

* Patient with Grade III/IV cardiac problems (i.e., congestive heart failure, myocardial infarction within 6 months of study) and with severe and/or uncontrolled medical disease (i.e., uncontrolled diabetes, chronic renal disease, or active uncontrolled infection).
* Patient has a known brain metastasis, chronic liver disease (i.e., chronic active hepatitis, and cirrhosis) and diagnosis of (HIV) infection.
* Patient received chemotherapy within 4 weeks prior to study entry, unless the disease is rapidly progressing.
* Patient previously received radiotherapy to ≥ 25 % of the bone marrow and had a major surgery within 2 weeks prior to study entry.
* Patient received either Vinorelbine or Imatinib in previous treatment regimens

Other protocol-defined inclusion/exclusion criteria may apply