Yayon et al (1997) demonstrated that direct interference with the activity of FGFR1 suppressed cell proliferation and survival of melanoma possibly through the inactivation of a Src-family kinase. To date bFGF/FGFR1 is the best characterised growth factor/growth factor receptor coexpression pair that has been found in primary and metastatic melanoma (Kaipainen et al, 1994; Wang and Becker, 1997). The gene discussed is FGFR1; the disease is melanoma.