OBJECTIVES: I. Determine the maximum tolerated dose of intratumoral adenovirus vector containing interferon gamma in patients with locally recurrent or metastatic melanoma or other solid tumors. II. Assess the safety and tolerability of this regimen in this patient population. III. Determine the local or distant antitumor effect of this regimen in these patients. IV. Evaluate the biological and immunological effects of this regimen and the extent of local interferon gamma expression in these patients.