Carriers of the melanocortin-1 receptor (MC₁R) were at increased melanoma risk independent of sun exposure, a recent study has found. Researchers conducted a hospital-based case-control study of 1,791 participants, 991 with melanoma and 800 controls, mean age 59.2, and 50.5% male. Data also included genetic testing, questionnaires, and physical information (Molecular Markers of Melanoma Study data set). They found:

• Compared with wild-type carriers, carriers of MC₁R variants were at higher melanoma risk after statistically adjusting for previous UV radiation (UVR) exposure, age, and gender.

• After adjusting for gender, age, past sunburns, and signs of actinic skin damage, the associations remained significant.

Citation: Wendt J, Rauscher S, Burgstaller-Muehlbacher S, et al. Human determinants and the role of melanocortin-1 receptor variants in melanoma risk independent of UV radiation exposure. [Published online ahead of print April 6, 2016]. JAMA Dermatol. doi:10.1001/jamadermatol.2016.0050.