Inclusion Criteria

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