Colony stimulating factors (CSFs) are glycoprotein hormones that regulate growth and differentiation of hematopoietic progenitor cells. Their use to stimulate granulocyte precursors during periods of neutropenia in patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is limited by their concomitant stimulation of the proliferation of myeloblasts. The effects of these agents on leukemic lymphoblasts is not entirely known. We have investigated the in vitro effects of granulocyte-CSF (G-CSF) and granulocyte/macrophage-CSF (GM-CSF) on leukemic cells from children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). DNA synthesis of bone marrow cells from 22 children with ALL, either at diagnosis or in relapse, was examined with and without CSFs. Proliferative potential was also tested in a clonogenic assay with 13 bone marrow specimens. These factors did not stimulate the growth of ALL cells in either assay. Our results indicate that G-CSF and GM-CSF should be able to stimulate granulocyte proliferation without enhancing leukemic proliferation during periods of neutropenia in children with ALL.