Melanoma Molecular Profiling Analysis

There is a significant need to develop new and more effective ways to treat melanoma that will decrease patient morbidity and mortality. This protocol intends to collect and process a portion (\< 20% of any node) of lymph nodes from melanoma patients undergoing routine surgical SLN resection: the SLN(s) and 1 adjacent non-SLN(s) are planned for study. In addition, blood will be drawn at the pre study visit (serum and peripheral blood mononuclear cells) and appropriate lineage control tissue will be collected. Material only from already-indicated and planned procedures as part of standard medical care will be used. The main goal of this study will be to properly collect and process material to be analyzed and explore the molecular features melanoma biological samples.