Melan A, a product of the MART-1 gene, is a melanocyte differentiation marker recognized by autologous cytotoxic T lymphocytes. Other melanoma-associated markers recognized by autologous cytotoxic T cells are reported to include MAGE-1, MAGE-3, tyrosinase, gp100, gp75, BAGE-1 and GAGE-1. The analysis of these different molecules and their expression in individual melanomas may be of help in the study of their particular molecular roles in melanocyte differentiation and tumorigenesis.