Recently, an immune-competent autochthonous model of melanoma brain metastasis was developed based on the avian retroviral replication-competent ALV LTR splice acceptor (RCAS)/tumor virus A (TVA) system, whereby ectopic expression of the avian TVA receptor is expressed in melanocytes under control of the dopachrome tautomerase (DCT) promoter. The gene discussed is DCT; the disease is melanoma.