DCT and melanoma: In this study, we used the transgenic tg(Grm1)EPv spontaneous melanoma mouse model, in which melanocytes ectopically express the metabotropic glutamate receptor-1 (Grm1) under the control of the melanocyte-specific promoter dopachrome tautomerase.19 The same alteration has been observed in 40% of melanoma patient samples.20 The slow and continuous growth of melanoma lesions in these mice allows the investigation of immunological alterations over prolonged time at different tumor stages.