Studying low oxygen in lymph nodes of people with melanoma

Who can take part

• Must be willing and able to provide written informed consent for the study
• Must have histologically confirmed melanoma for which a Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy (SLNB) is indicated per the treating physician
• Cutaneous or mucosal melanoma is permitted
• Female patients of childbearing potential must have a negative urine or serum pregnancy test within 7 days from the time of pimonidazole administration; Female subjects of childbearing potential must not be pregnant or breastfeeding. Female subjects will be considered of non-reproductive potential if they:; are postmenopausal (defined as at least 12 months with no menses without an alternative medical cause; in women < 45 years of age a high follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) level in the postmenopausal range may be used to confirm a post-menopausal state in women not using hormonal contraception or hormonal replacement therapy. In the absence of 12 months of amenorrhea, a single FSH measurement is insufficient; have had a hysterectomy and/or bilateral oophorectomy, bilateral salpingectomy or bilateral tubal ligation/occlusion, at least 6 weeks prior to screening; have a congenital or acquired condition that prevents childbearing; Female and male subjects of reproductive potential must agree to avoid becoming pregnant or impregnating a partner, respectively, while receiving study drug and 1 week after the dose of study drug for females and 2 weeks for males by complying with one of the following:; practice abstinence from heterosexual activity; use (or have their partner use) acceptable contraception during heterosexual activity
• Adequate hematologic function: white blood cells (WBC) ≥ 2,500/μL, platelet count ≥ 100,000/μL, hemoglobin ≥ 8.0 g/dL
• Adequate renal function: serum creatinine ≤ 2.0 mg/dL
• Adequate hepatic function: serum alkaline phosphatase, bilirubin, and ALT ≤ twice the institutional upper limit of normal

Who cannot take part

• Severe septicemia or severe infection in the 4 weeks prior to study entry
• History of previous neuropathy from chemotherapy or other causes not related to cancer
• Pregnant subjects or breastfeeding subjects. (Note: A pregnancy test will be administered within 7 days prior to the administration of pimonidazole to female subjects of childbearing potential enrolled in the study.)
• Subjects who have received an investigational new drug 6 half-lives or two weeks prior to enrollment in this study, whichever is shorter
• Subjects with known chronic immunosuppression (such as biologic agents like infliximab, mycophenolate, methotrexate, prednisone > 20 mg daily)
• Subjects with (ECOG) Performance scale of 4 - subjects unable to perform self-care