OBJECTIVES: I. Evaluate the benefit of the cytokine sargramostim (GM-CSF) in resolving suspected or proven fungal infections in patients treated with systemic antifungal therapy (liposomal amphotericin B) who have been entered on protocols MRC-LEUK-AML11, AML12 or UKALLXII. II. Assess, in vitro, the effect of GM-CSF on monocyte function on cells taken from these patients.