Randomized Phase III Trial to Compare the Immunodulatory Effects of Leukine vs. Saline for Early-stage Melanoma Patients Undergoing Sentinel Lymph Node Dissection

PRIMARY OBJECTIVES: I. To determine if the alterations in morphology and phenotype to the sentinel lymph nodes are reversible. II. To determine if the restoration of the morphology or phenotype of sentinel lymph nodes results in diminished regional tumor burden. OUTLINE: Patients are randomized to 1 of 2 treatment arms. ARM I: Patients receive sargramostim subcutaneously (SC) 3-5 days prior to undergoing sentinel lymph node biopsy. ARM II: Patients receive hypertonic saline SC 3-5 days prior to undergoing sentinel lymph node biopsy. After completion of study treatment, patients are followed up for 30 days.