Downregulation or complete shutdown of the E-CADH expression, mutation of the gene or other interference mechanisms involving the adherent junctions are strongly correlated with the loss of epithelial morphology and acquisition of metastatic potential.47 Once melanoma cells become invasive, they no longer express E-CADH but rather VE-CADH, (CDH5, Non-Epithelial Cadherin 5) or N-CADH (CDH2, Cadherin 2) both principally involved in EMT.47,48 Mel39 describes the process as follows: ‘the EMT process is used by migrating cells during embryonic development. This evidence concerns the gene CDH2 and melanoma.