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?

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