The numerous reported effects ascribed to GDF-15 in diverse malignancies (including intracranial brain tumors, melanoma, lung, gastrointestinal, pancreatic, colorectal, prostate, and breast epithelial cancers) include links between GDF-15 and tumorigenesis, disease progression, prognosis, clinical outcome and response to chemo- and radiotherapy (24, 25). This evidence concerns the gene GDF15 and melanoma.