The studies of Mehnert et al., based on the fact that angiogenesis is one of the factors required for progression and melanoma metastasis, demonstrated that vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and its receptors (VEGF-R1, VEGF-R2, and VEGF-R3) are higher in melanomas and advanced melanomas than in benign nevi. The gene discussed is FLT4; the disease is melanoma.