In order to determine the possible use of uveal melanoma cell lines as stimulators in immunotherapy, we evaluated the expression of the human genes for MAGE-1, -2 and -3, gp100 and tyrosinase in uveal melanoma cell lines. mRNA expression of the MAGE-1, -2 and -3, gp100 and tyrosinase genes and the HLA class I specificity were determined in five primary and three metastatic uveal melanoma cell lines.