OBJECTIVES: I. Determine the response rate in patients with refractory or recurrent glioblastoma multiforme or anaplastic astrocytoma treated with paclitaxel (TAX) and topotecan (TOPO) with granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) support. II. Determine survival in these patients. III. Describe the toxicity of TAX/TOPO/G-CSF. IV. Evaluate tumor p53 expression in relation to response to TAX/TOPO/G-CSF.