DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

• Histologically or cytologically confirmed malignant pleural or peritoneal mesothelioma that is not amenable to curative surgery

  • Epithelial, sarcomatoid, or mixed subtype

  • Evidence of gross unresectability, including, but not limited to, the following conditions:

    • Direct extension into the chest wall
    • Mediastinal or hilar lymphadenopathy
    • Pulmonary or cardiac function that is inadequate to tolerate resection
    • Sarcomatoid or mixed histology
• Pleural mesothelioma must be stage II or greater using the International Mesothelioma Interest Group staging system

• Measurable disease outside prior irradiation port

  • At least 20 mm by conventional techniques OR at least 10 mm by spiral CT scan
  • Pleural effusions and ascites are not considered measurable lesions
  • Site in pleura, lung, liver, or retroperitoneum that can be assessed by MRI for evaluation of blood flow
• No obvious tumor involvement of major vessels by CT scan
• No known brain metastases

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

Age:

• 18 and over

Performance status:

• ECOG 0-1

Life expectancy:

• More than 3 months

Hematopoietic:

• WBC at least 3,000/mm^3
• Absolute neutrophil count at least 1,500/mm^3
• Platelet count at least 100,000/mm^3
• No history of bleeding diathesis

Hepatic:

• Bilirubin normal
• AST/ALT no greater than 2.5 times upper limit of normal
• INR no greater than 1.5

Renal:

• Creatinine no greater than 1.5 mg/dL OR
• Creatinine clearance at least 60 mL/min
• If 1+ or greater proteinuria on dipstick, then must have less than 500 mg of protein/24-hour urine collection
• No significant renal impairment

Cardiovascular:

• See Disease Characteristics
• No history deep vein thrombosis
• No myocardial ischemia or infarction within the past 6 months
• No uncompensated coronary artery disease within the past 6 months
• No uncontrolled hypertension
• No symptomatic congestive heart failure
• No unstable angina pectoris within the past 6 months
• No cardiac arrhythmia
• No transient ischemic attack within the past 6 months
• No cerebrovascular accident within the past 6 months
• No other arterial thromboembolic event within the past 6 months
• No clinically significant peripheral artery disease

Pulmonary:

• See Disease Characteristics
• No history of pulmonary embolism

Other:

• No prior allergic reactions attributed to compounds of similar chemical or biologic composition to bevacizumab or other study agents
• No other active malignancy within the past 5 years except nonmelanoma skin cancer or carcinoma in situ of the cervix
• No ongoing or active infection
• No other concurrent uncontrolled illness that would preclude study participation
• No psychiatric illness or social situations that would preclude compliance
• Not pregnant or nursing
• Negative pregnancy test
• Fertile patients must use effective contraception

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

Biologic therapy:

• No growth factors for 24 hours before, during, or for 24 hours after cytotoxic chemotherapy

Chemotherapy:

• See Biologic therapy
• Prior intrapleural cytotoxic agents (including bleomycin) allowed
• No prior systemic cytotoxic chemotherapy

Endocrine therapy:

• Not specified

Radiotherapy:

• See Disease Characteristics
• At least 4 weeks since prior radiotherapy and recovered

Surgery:

• See Disease Characteristics
• At least 6 weeks since prior major surgery

Other:

• At least 30 days since prior investigational drug
• No other concurrent investigational or commercial agents or therapies
• No concurrent combination antiretroviral therapy for HIV-positive patients