The first finding from our data was that one or more positive tests for tyrosinase mRNA in blood during long-term follow-up of patients with melanoma was significantly correlated with a higher risk of relapse, shown both in univariante and multivariante analysis but not a higher risk of death from melanoma dissemination as found in other studies (Mellado et al, 1999). The gene discussed is TYR; the disease is melanoma.