The genes included: MLANA/MART1 (melanoma antigen recognized by T cells), TYR (tyrosinase), MAGEA3 (melanoma antigen family A3), PAX3 (paired box protein Pax-3 isoform 3) and ABCB5. These genes were selected based on their known exclusive expression in melanoma cells and their undetected expression by this RT-PCR assay in WBC samples from healthy individuals (n=5). This evidence concerns the gene MLANA and melanoma.