Additionally, ERβ is more highly expressed in melanomas from pregnant women and may generally be more abundant in women than in men.[37] Intriguingly, recent findings suggest an “obesity paradox” in melanoma: obese men with melanoma exhibit better response to targeted therapy and improved survival rates compared to their normal body mass index (BMI) counterparts.[38] This phenomenon may support the protective role of sex hormone/ER activity on disease progression, as obese men typically have higher levels of estrogen in their blood. This evidence concerns the gene ESR1 and melanoma.