A study used three melanoma markers to differentiate melanoma from nonmelanoma lesions. The markers comprised silver homolog (SILV), growth differentiation factor 15 (GDF15) and L1 cell adhesion molecule (L1CAM). A total of 193 biopsy tissues were studied: 47 melanomas, 48 benign nevi and 98 atypical/suspicious lesions. SILV appeared to be the best marker and showed a significant difference between suspicious melanoma and each suspicious atypia group. Melanoma versus severe atypia and melanoma versus moderate atypia had P-values of 0.0077 and 0.0009, respectively. The role and potential utility of SILV for differentiating melanoma and nonmelanoma lesions is encouraging (Alexandrescu, D.T. et al. J Invest Dermatol 2010, 130: 1887).