Rab7a, the major Rab7 protein in melanoma cells (Rab7b is expressed at much lower levels compared to Rab7a) is postulated here to control melanoma proliferation, growth, and invasiveness through TPC2 activity regulation, specifically in melanoma cells which express high levels of MITF (microphthalmia-associated transcription factor), a known master regulator of melanocytes and melanoma development and progression. Here, TPCN2 is linked to melanoma.