OBJECTIVES: I. Determine the maximum tolerated dose of DTGM fusion protein in patients with recurrent or refractory adult acute myeloid leukemia. II. Determine the dose-limiting toxic effects of this regimen in these patients. III. Measure the pharmacokinetics of this regimen in these patients. IV. Evaluate the response rate at the maximum tolerated dose and immune responses in patients treated with this regimen. V. Correlate in vitro sensitivity of leukemic blasts to this regimen with the response rate in these patients. VI. Correlate tumor necrosis factor genetic polymorphisms with toxicity profiles and dose-limiting toxic effects of this regimen in these patients.