OBJECTIVES: I. Compare the response rate or clinical benefit rate in patients with locally advanced or metastatic breast cancer treated with 1 of 2 different doses of arzoxifene hydrochloride. II. Compare the response rates and clinical benefit rates for patients with tamoxifen-sensitive versus tamoxifen-refractory disease. III. Compare the degree of toxicity between the 2 doses of arzoxifene hydrochloride in these patients. IV. Compare the quality of life and survival of these patients receiving high versus low dose arzoxifene hydrochloride. V. Determine the time to progressive disease, time to treatment failure, and response duration of this treatment in these patients. VII. Measure changes in serum estradiol, follicle stimulating hormone, luteinizing hormone, and sex hormone binding globulin in these patients during treatment.