Hence, in conjunction with the dedifferentiation of melanoma cells into a progenitor cell state as evidenced by the RNA-seq, these results propose that during the progression of cdkn2b-/-/tp53-/- Xenopus tropicalis melanoma, melanoma cells may transit into pigment cell precursor cells (neural crest cells, MIX progenitor cells, MI progenitor cells, melanoblasts, and iridoblasts), undergo EMT, and subsequently progress into malignant tumor cells exhibiting heightened expression of melanophores and iridophores marker genes. Here, CDKN2B is linked to melanoma.