Compatible with this, significantly elevated concentrations of serum gastrin were observed in melanoma patients belonging to the stage 2 group when compared to those in the stage 1 group (t-test p < 0.001; 40 ± 6.8 vs. 24 ± 4.4 pM, respectively), as well as when compared to 26 BCC patients as controls. This evidence concerns the gene GAST and melanoma.