High expression of HMGB1 has been reported in numerous human maligancies, including breast, melanoma, gastric, colon, bladder, head and neck carcinoma40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47 and it is documented to be a key factor in a mouse model of inflammation-induced colon carcinogenesis48. Here, HMGB1 is linked to melanoma.