Several other factors detected as upregulated in HR-M3 pUM in this study have previously been associated with tumour progression and metastasis in UM, including growth differentiating factor 15 (GDF-15), thrombospondin 2 (THBS2), and cysteine-rich angiogenic inducer 61 (CYR61)53–55. This evidence concerns the gene GDF15 and neoplasm.