DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

• Histologically or cytologically confirmed adenocarcinoma of the pancreas
• No evidence of distant metastasis on laparoscopy
• No superior mesenteric artery or thrombosed superior mesenteric vein involvement
• Superior mesenteric vein or portal vein involvement allowed
• Evidence of a pancreatic mass by radiographic or endoscopic examination

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

Performance status

• ECOG 0-1

Life expectancy

• Not specified

Hematopoietic

• WBC ≥ 2,500/mm^3
• Absolute neutrophil count ≥ 1,250/mm^3
• Platelet count ≥ 100,000/mm^3

Hepatic

• Hepatitis B surface antigen negative
• Hepatitis C virus negative
• No history of hepatic cirrhosis

Renal

• Creatinine ≤ 2.0 mg/dL
• Proteinuria negative or trace by urinalysis OR
• Protein < 1 g on 24 hr urine collection
• No active gross hematuria

Cardiovascular

• No severe congestive heart failure
• No active ischemic heart disease
• No ischemic changes on a cardiac thallium stress test
• No uncontrolled hypertension (i.e., blood pressure ≤ 150/100 mm Hg despite antihypertensive therapy)
• No active coagulation disorder

Pulmonary

• No active gross hemoptysis

Other

• Not pregnant or nursing
• Negative pregnancy test
• Fertile patients must use effective contraception during the adjuvant therapy part of trial
• HIV negative
• No active infection
• No wound healing problem from recent invasive procedure
• No significant history of medical illness that would preclude patient from undergoing an operative procedure
• No other malignancy requiring systemic therapy

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

Biologic therapy

• Recovered from prior immunotherapy for pancreatic cancer
• No prior bevacizumab

Chemotherapy

• Recovered from prior chemotherapy for pancreatic cancer
• No prior gemcitabine hydrochloride

Endocrine therapy

• Recovered from prior hormonal therapy for pancreatic cancer

Radiotherapy

• Recovered from prior radiotherapy for pancreatic cancer
• No prior radiotherapy to the pancreas

Surgery

• No prior definitive resection of the primary pancreatic tumor
• Prior surgery, other than resection of the primary tumor, allowed

Other

• More than 3 weeks since prior systemic therapy for this cancer
• No concurrent therapeutic anticoagulation causing elevated PT or PTT