Redheads Have More Sun (and Reactive Oxygen Species): A Surprising Link Between Melanin Production and Melanoma

Although linkage of melanoma risk to ultraviolet radiation exposure is beyond doubt, ultraviolet-radiation–independent events are likely to have a considerable role.

The genetic basis for the phenotypic features (red hair, freckles, inability to tan, blue eyes) collectively known as Fitzpatrick skin type I has long been genetically linked to hypomorphic alleles of the melanocortin 1 receptor (MC1R) gene. MC1R regulates the pheomelanin-to-eumelanin ratio. To investigate the role of MC1R in melanomagenesis, investigators compared melanoma susceptibility in mice with an inactivating mutation in Mc1r (analogous to red-haired/fair-skinned humans) and those without this mutation.

Surprisingly, the red mice lacking Mcr1 had significantly higher rates of BRAF-driven melanoma than darkly pigmented or albino mice lacking tyrosinase and therefore melanin. The authors also showed that a combined lack of Mcr1 and tyr…

Reviewing Author

Kenneth Y. Tsai, MD, PhD

Disclosures

Grant / Research support American Association for Cancer Research – Landon Foundation; National Institutes of Health/National Cancer Institute; Cancer Prevention Research Institute of Texas

Editorial BoardsJournal of the American Academy of Dermatology

Kenneth Y. Tsai, MD, PhD

Disclosures

Grant / Research support American Association for Cancer Research – Landon Foundation; National Institutes of Health/National Cancer Institute; Cancer Prevention Research Institute of Texas

Editorial BoardsJournal of the American Academy of Dermatology

Redheads Have More Sun (and Reactive Oxygen Species): A Surprising Link Between Melanin Production and Melanoma

Topics

Reviewing Author