Bevacizumab in Treating Patients With Persistent or Recurrent Cancer of the Cervix

Inclusion Criteria:

* Histologically confirmed persistent or recurrent squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of the cervix
* Patients must have received at least 1, but no more than 2, prior cytotoxic chemotherapy regimens for advanced, metastatic, or recurrent SCC of the cervix

  * Chemotherapy administered as a radio-sensitizer does not count as 1 regimen
* Documented disease progression
* At least 1 unidimensionally measurable lesion\*

  * At least 20 mm by conventional techniques OR at least 10 mm by spiral CT scan
* No tumor involving major blood vessels
* No history or physical evidence of CNS disease, including primary or metastatic brain tumor
* Ineligible for a higher priority Gynecological Oncology Group (GOG) protocol (if one exists), including any active GOG phase III protocol for the same patient population
* Performance status - GOG 0-2 (if received 1 prior regimen)
* Performance status - GOG 0-1 (if received 2 prior regimens)
* Absolute neutrophil count ≥ 1,500/mm\^3
* Platelet count ≥ 100,000/mm\^3
* No known bleeding disorder or coagulopathy
* No other active bleeding or pathologic condition that would confer a high risk of bleeding
* Bilirubin ≤ 1.5 times upper limit of normal (ULN)
* SGOT ≤ 2.5 times ULN
* Alkaline phosphatase ≤ 2.5 times ULN
* INR ≤ 1.5 (or 2-3 for patients on a stable dose of therapeutic warfarin or low molecular weight heparin)
* PTT \< 1.2 times control
* Creatinine ≤ 1.5 times ULN
* Creatinine clearance \> 60 mL/min
* No proteinuria

  * Urine protein \< 1+ on dipstick or \< 30 mg/dL
  * Urine protein \< 1000 mg by 24-hour urine collection
* No clinically significant cardiovascular disease
* No uncontrolled hypertension
* No myocardial infarction or unstable angina within the past 6 months
* No New York Heart Association grade II-IV congestive heart failure
* No serious cardiac arrhythmia requiring medication
* No grade II or greater peripheral vascular disease
* No history of stroke within the past 5 years
* No greater than grade 1 sensory or motor neuropathy
* No active infection requiring parenteral antibiotics
* No serious nonhealing wound, ulcer, or bone fracture
* No history or physical evidence of seizures not controlled with standard medical therapy
* No known hypersensitivity to Chinese hamster ovary cell products or other recombinant human antibodies
* No other invasive malignancy within the past 5 years except nonmelanomatous skin cancer
* No significant traumatic injury within the past 4 weeks
* Not pregnant or nursing
* Negative pregnancy test
* Fertile patients must use effective contraception during and for at least 3 months after completion of study treatment
* No prior bevacizumab
* At least 3 weeks since prior immunologic agents for SCC of the cervix
* See Disease Characteristics
* Recovered from prior chemotherapy
* No prior non-cytotoxic chemotherapy for persistent or recurrent disease
* At least 1 week since prior hormonal therapy for SCC of the cervix
* Concurrent hormone replacement therapy allowed
* See Disease Characteristics
* Recovered from prior radiotherapy
* Recovered from recent prior surgery
* At least 4 weeks since prior major surgical procedure or open biopsy
* At least 1 week since prior placement of vascular access device or core biopsy
* No concurrent major surgical procedure
* At least 3 weeks since other prior therapy for SCC of the cervix
* No prior anticancer therapy that would preclude study therapy
* No concurrent anticoagulants other than those required to maintain the patency of indwelling IV catheters
* No concurrent chronic daily aspirin greater than 325 mg/day or other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medications that are known to inhibit platelet function at doses used for chronic inflammatory diseases