Although a previous study did not identify a relationship between serum TGF-ß1 concentration and melanoma stage13, probably because circulating bioactive TGF-β1 levels were not specifically measured, it has been demonstrated that overall canonical TGF-β/SMAD signaling is a potent promoter of melanoma progression, even at early stages of the disease14, and that soluble active TGF-β1 is directly related to the risk of melanoma metastasis15,16. This evidence concerns the gene TGFB1 and melanoma.