Paclitaxel With or Without Bevacizumab in Treating Patients With Locally Recurrent or Metastatic Breast Cancer

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: * Histologically or cytologically confirmed adenocarcinoma of the breast * Locally recurrent disease that is not amenable to surgical resection with curative intent OR * Metastatic disease * No HER-2-overexpressing (3+) breast cancer unless previously treated with trastuzumab (Herceptin) * Unknown HER-2 status allowed provided herceptin-based therapy inappropriate or not indicated * No prior or radiologic evidence of CNS metastases, including previously treated, resected, or asymptomatic brain lesions or leptomeningeal involvement by head CT scan or MRI * Hormone receptor status: * Not specified PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: Age: * 18 and over Sex: * Male or female Menopausal status: * Not specified Performance status: * ECOG 0-1 Life expectancy: * Not specified Hematopoietic: * Absolute neutrophil count at least 1,500/mm\^3 * Platelet count at least 100,000/mm\^3 * No prior bleeding diathesis Hepatic: * Bilirubin no greater than 1.5 mg/dL * SGOT no greater than 2 times upper limit of normal (ULN) (5 times ULN for known liver involvement) * PT/PTT no greater than 1.5 times normal * INR no greater than 1.5 times normal Renal: * Creatinine no greater than 2.0 mg/dL * No proteinuria by dipstick urinalysis * Trace proteinuria allowed * Proteinuria less than 500 mg by 24-hour urine collection if proteinuria at least 1+ by urinalysis Cardiovascular: * No clinically significant cardiovascular disease * No myocardial infarction within the past 12 months * No unstable angina * No prior deep vein thrombosis * No grade 2 or greater peripheral vascular disease * No uncontrolled congestive heart failure * No uncontrolled hypertension (systolic blood pressure greater than 170 mmHg and diastolic blood pressure greater than 95 mm Hg) * No prior cerebrovascular accident Pulmonary: * No prior pulmonary embolism Other: * Not pregnant or nursing * Negative pregnancy test * Fertile patients must use effective non-hormonal contraception * No history of seizures * No non-healing wound or fracture * No hypersensitivity to paclitaxel, Cremophor EL, Chinese hamster ovary cell products, or other recombinant human antibodies * No active infection requiring parenteral antibiotics PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY: Biologic therapy: * See Disease Characteristics Chemotherapy: * No prior chemotherapy for locally recurrent or metastatic breast cancer * At least 12 months since prior adjuvant or neoadjuvant taxane therapy * At least 3 weeks since prior adjuvant chemotherapy Endocrine therapy: * At least 3 weeks since prior hormonal therapy for locally recurrent or metastatic breast cancer Radiotherapy: * At least 3 weeks since prior radiotherapy * No prior radiotherapy to only site of disease * No concurrent local radiotherapy for pain control or life-threatening situations (e.g, superior vena cava syndrome, spinal cord compression, or CNS metastases) Surgery: * At least 4 weeks since prior major surgical procedure except placement of vascular access device or breast biopsy * At least 7 days since prior minor surgical procedure, including placement of an access device or fine needle aspiration Other: * At least 10 days since prior anticoagulant therapy (low-dose anticoagulant therapy to maintain patency of a vascular access device allowed) * At least 10 days since prior and no concurrent daily aspirin (more than 325 mg/day) or other non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medication known to inhibit platelet function * No concurrent dipyridamole, ticlopidine, clopidogrel, or cilostazol