DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

• Histologically confirmed adenocarcinoma of the prostate

  • Clinically metastatic disease by bone scan, CT scan, or MRI

• Meets 1 of the following criteria:

  • Measurable disease with any level of prostate-specific antigen (PSA)

    • At least 1 unidimensionally measurable lesion ≥ 20 mm by conventional techniques (i.e., physical exam or chest x-ray) OR ≥ 10 mm by spiral CT scan or MRI

  • Nonmeasurable disease AND PSA ≥ 5 ng/mL

    • The following are considered nonmeasurable disease:

      • Bone lesions
      • Pleural or pericardial effusions or ascites
      • CNS lesions or leptomeningeal disease
      • Irradiated lesions unless disease progression is documented after radiotherapy
    • Patients with PSA ≥ 5 ng/mL only and no other radiographic evidence of metastatic prostate cancer are not eligible

• Progressive systemic disease (since the most recent change in therapy) despite castrate levels of testosterone due to orchiectomy or luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone (LHRH) agonist therapy

  • Castrate levels of testosterone must be maintained

    • Primary testicular androgen suppression (e.g.,LHRH agonists) should be continued during study treatment for patients who have not had a bilateral orchiectomy

  • Progressive disease is defined as any of the following:

    • Measurable disease progression

      • Increase of > 20% in the sum of the longest diameters of target lesions from the time of maximal regression OR the appearance of ≥ 1 new lesion

    • Bone scan progression

      • Appearance of ≥ 1 new lesion on bone scan attributable to prostate cancer AND PSA ≥ 5 ng/mL

    • PSA progression

      • PSA ≥ 5 ng/mL that has risen serially from baseline on at least 2 occasions (taken ≥1 week apart) after the discontinuation of antiandrogen therapy
      • If the confirmatory PSA value is < the screening PSA value, an additional test for rising PSA is required to document progression
• Testosterone ≤ 50 ng/dL for patients who have not had a bilateral orchiectomy
• Have an established Gleason sum
• Patients enrolled on CALGB-90202 are eligible provide they have documented disease progression and have received ≥ 4 weeks of open-label zoledronic acid treatment
• No known brain metastases (MRI or CT scan is not required)

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

Age

• 18 and over

Performance status

• ECOG 0-2

Life expectancy

• Not specified

Hematopoietic

• Absolute neutrophil count ≥ 1,500/mm^3
• Platelet count ≥ 100,000/mm^3
• No other significant bleeding episode within the past 6 months

Hepatic

• Bilirubin ≤ 1.5 times upper limit of normal (ULN)
• AST ≤ 1.5 times ULN

Renal

• Creatinine ≤ 1.5 times ULN
• Urine protein to creatinine ratio < 1.0

Cardiovascular

• History of hypertension allowed provided blood pressure (BP) is controlled (i.e., BP < 160/90 mm Hg) by anti-hypertensive therapy
• No New York Heart Association class II-IV congestive heart failure

• No arterial thrombotic events within the past 6 months, including any of the following:

  • Transient ischemic attack
  • Cerebrovascular accident
  • Unstable angina
  • Angina requiring surgical or medical intervention
  • Myocardial infarction
  • Clinically significant peripheral artery disease (i.e., claudication on less than 1 block)
  • Any other arterial thrombotic event

Pulmonary

• No hemoptysis within the past 6 months

Gastrointestinal

• No upper or lower gastrointestinal (GI) bleeding within the past 6 months
• No history of GI perforation within the past 12 months

Other

• Fertile patients must use effective contraception during and for at least 3 months after completion of study treatment
• No serious or non-healing wound, ulcer, or bone fracture
• No peripheral neuropathy ≥ grade 2
• No known hypersensitivity to Chinese hamster ovary cell products or other recombinant human antibodies

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

Biologic therapy

• No prior thalidomide or bevacizumab
• No other prior antiangiogenesis agents
• No concurrent prophylactic filgrastim (G-CSF), pegfilgrastim, or sargramostim (GM-CSF)

Chemotherapy

• No prior estramustine or suramin
• No other prior cytotoxic chemotherapy
• No other concurrent chemotherapy

Endocrine therapy

• See Disease Characteristics
• At least 4 weeks since prior flutamide, megestrol, bicalutamide, or nilutamide

• At least 4 weeks since any other prior hormonal therapy (e.g., ketoconazole, aminoglutethimide)

  • 5α-reductase inhibitors (e.g., finasteride, dutasteride) may be discontinued any time prior to study entry

• No concurrent hormonal therapy except for the following:

  • Steroids for adrenal insufficiency
  • Hormones for non-disease-related conditions (e.g., insulin for diabetes)
  • Intermittent dexamethasone as an antiemetic

Radiotherapy

• See Disease Characteristics
• At least 4 weeks since prior radiotherapy, including palliative, and recovered
• At least 8 weeks since prior strontium chloride Sr 89 or samarium Sm 153 lexidronam pentasodium
• No concurrent palliative radiotherapy

Surgery

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

Other

• Concurrent bisphosphonates allowed provided patient is on a stable dose and initiated treatment ≥ 4 weeks prior to study entry

  • No initiation of bisphosphonates during study treatment
• Concurrent full-dose anticoagulation allowed provided patient is on a stable dose of warfarin AND has an in-range INR OR patient is on a stable dose of low-molecular weight heparin
• Concurrent antiplatelet agents allowed, including daily prophylactic aspirin or anticoagulation for atrial fibrillation

• No concurrent herbal medications or food supplements (e.g., PC-SPES, saw palmetto, or Hypericum perforatum [St. John's wort])

  • Concurrent daily vitamins and calcium supplements allowed