These results suggest that α-MSH can effectively reduce cytokine-induced upregulation of adhesion molecules such as integrins that would tend to increase melanoma invasiveness through ECM proteins while also reducing expression of adhesion molecules that promote interaction between melanoma cells and the immune system (e.g. ICAM-1 as we previously demonstrated (Hedley et al, 1998b; Morandini et al, 1998)), thus enhancing melanoma escape of immune surveillance. This evidence concerns the gene ICAM1 and melanoma.