OBJECTIVES: I. Estimate the efficiency of tumor cell transduction with adenovirus p53 delivered stereotactically to patients with recurrent or progressive resectable glioblastoma multiforme, anaplastic astrocytoma, or anaplastic mixed glioma. II. Determine the maximum tolerated dose of adenovirus p53 delivered stereotactically and with craniotomy in these patients. III. Correlate analysis of predelivery tumor specimen p53 gene status with postdelivery p53 gene status, clinical status, and tumor staging in these patients treated with this regimen. IV. Correlate analysis of postdelivery tumor specimen p53 gene status and local tumor immune response with postdelivery clinical status and tumor imaging in these patients treated with this regimen.