Although chemotherapy of melanoma cells leads to acquired resistance, DNA-damaging agents induce upregulation of DNA damage-binding protein 2 and xeroderma pigmentosum genes.19 It has been shown that acquired resistance of melanoma and glioblastoma to fotemustine is directly linked to high expression of the de-alkylating enzymes.20 Thus, acquired increase of the DNA repair capacity is likely to be a major mechanism of melanoma cells in evading chemotherapeutic interventions (reviewed in Soengas and Lowe21). The gene discussed is DDB2; the disease is melanoma.