Bevacizumab in Treating Patients With Myelodysplastic Syndrome

Inclusion criteria

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: * Histologically confirmed myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) * Refractory anemia (RA) * RA with excess blasts (RAEB) * RAEB in transformation * RA with ringed sideroblasts * Non-proliferative chronic myelomonocytic leukemia (WBC less than 12,000/mm\^3) * At least 1 of the following cytopenias: * Untransfused hemoglobin no greater than 10.0 g/dL and/or red cell transfusion dependent * Absolute neutrophil count no greater than 1,800/mm\^3 (neutropenia) * Platelet count no greater than 100,000/mm\^3 (thrombocytopenia) * No secondary MDS * No known brain metastases PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: Age: * 18 and over Performance status: * ECOG 0-2 * Karnofsky 60-100% Life expectancy: * More than 4 months Hematopoietic: * See Disease Characteristics * Platelet count at least 20,000/mm\^3 * No hemorrhagic illness within the past 3 weeks * No hemolysis * No iron deficiency * No active blood loss Hepatic: * AST and ALT no greater than 2.5 times upper limit of normal (ULN) * Bilirubin no greater than 2.0 mg/dL * INR less than 2.0 * PTT less than 1.5 times ULN Renal: * Creatinine no greater than 2.0 mg/dL * No renal dysfunction requiring dialysis within the past 6 months * No nephrotic syndrome within the past 6 months Cardiovascular: * No myocardial infraction within the past 6 months * No severe or unstable angina within the past 6 months * No severe peripheral vascular disease (ischemic rest pain, non-healing wound or ulcer, or tissue loss) within the past 6 months * No uncontrolled hypertension within the past 6 months * No transient ischemic attack within the past 6 months * No cerebrovascular accident within the past 6 months * No deep venous or arterial thrombosis * No coronary artery disease * No symptomatic congestive heart failure (New York Heart Association class II-IV heart disease) * No cardiac arrhythmia * No vascular illness within the past 3 weeks Pulmonary: * No pulmonary embolism Other: * Not pregnant or nursing * Negative pregnancy test * Fertile patients must use effective contraception * No other active malignancy except localized squamous cell or basal cell skin cancer * Prior cured malignancy allowed * No trauma within the past 3 weeks * No significant inflammatory disease within the past 3 weeks * No serious non-healing wound, ulcer, or bone fracture * No hypersensitivity to Chinese hamster ovary cell products or other recombinant human or humanized antibodies * No other active severe disease * No infection * No psychiatric illness or social situation that would preclude study compliance * HIV negative PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY: Biologic therapy: * No prior allogeneic bone marrow transplantation * At least 30 days since prior biologic response modifiers * At least 30 days since prior hematopoietic growth factors * At least 30 days since prior thalidomide * No concurrent thalidomide * No other concurrent biologic response modifiers * No concurrent hematopoietic growth factors (including epoetin alfa) * Concurrent filgrastim (G-CSF) for febrile neutropenia allowed * Concurrent transfusions allowed Chemotherapy: * At least 30 days since prior chemotherapy * No concurrent chemotherapy Endocrine therapy: * No concurrent corticosteroid therapy (more than 10 mg/day of prednisone or equivalent steroid dose) except for pre-medication for transfusions Radiotherapy: * At least 30 days since prior radiotherapy * No concurrent radiotherapy Surgery: * At least 3 weeks since prior surgery (including biopsy of visceral organ) Other: * At least 10 days since prior anticoagulants * No concurrent cytotoxic agents * No other concurrent investigational agents