PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY: Biologic therapy: No concurrent immunotherapy No prior trastuzumab Chemotherapy: See Disease Characteristics No concurrent chemotherapy No prior marimastat or batimastat Endocrine therapy: Prior and/or concurrent hormonal therapy for breast cancer allowed Concurrent hormonal therapy allowed Radiotherapy: No concurrent radiotherapy Surgery: No prior organ allograft Other: At least 4 weeks since other investigational agents No concurrent bisphosphonate therapy unless it was initiated prior to the study No concurrent immunosuppressive therapy Patients receiving anticoagulant therapy must be carefully monitored