PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY: Biologic therapy: No concurrent immunostimulating drugs No prior autologous or allogeneic organ or tissue transplant Chemotherapy: At least 4 weeks since prior chemotherapy At least 6 weeks since nitrosourea or mitomycin No other concurrent chemotherapy Endocrine therapy: No concurrent nontopical corticosteroids unless chronic (at least 6 months) at low doses (no greater than 10 mg of oral prednisone) Radiotherapy: See Disease Characteristics At least 4 weeks since radiotherapy to measurable disease sites, unless progressive disease No concurrent radiotherapy to disease sites receiving study drug injections Surgery: See Disease Characteristics No concurrent surgery to disease sites receiving study drug injections Other: No concurrent high dose steroids At least 4 weeks since experimental therapy No concurrent other experimental drugs or therapy No prior gene therapy using adenoviral vectors