The Melanocortin 1 receptor and its influence on naevi and melanoma in dark-skinned phenotypes

Abstract

It is well appreciated that melanocortin 1 receptor variants can produce a fair skinned and red-haired phenotype that has a strong association with increased melanoma risk. These patients are easily recognised and given appropriate attention. What may not be appreciated is that darker-skinned individuals may also carry melanocortin 1 receptor variant alleles and that they can also be at increased risk of melanoma. Considering that melanocortin 1 receptor is crucial for melanocyte proliferation, regulation and differentiation do the naevi of these darker-skinned individuals have specific features that help identify them as carrying one of these melanocortin 1 receptor variants and do melanomas that develop in dark-skinned melanocortin 1 receptor variant carriers have particular characteristics?

Keywords: alleles; melanocortin 1 receptor; melanoma; naevus; polymorphism.