However, our identification for a requirement of ATM to promote IL-8 expression, cell migration and invasion in vitro, as well as the association of increased levels of IL-8 with the metastatic potential of several cancer types, including colon cancer and melanoma (Lee et al., 2012; Wu et al., 2012), prompted us to evaluate if ATM could influence tumorigenesis and promote pro-metastatic processes. The gene discussed is CXCL8; the disease is malignant colon neoplasm.