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