Since the store-operated Ca2+ entry (SOCE) pathway has been shown to be important in calcium signaling in non-excitable cells (such as malignant cells), our results couple STIM1 expression with aberrant Ca2+ signaling, an idea which is supported by previous studies that indicate STIM1 overexpression modulates SOCE in melanomas 11, 48-50 and other cancer types 9, 10, 51. This evidence concerns the gene STIM1 and cancer.