Red pigment contributes to melanoma risk in fair-skinned individuals

Red pigment contributes to melanoma risk in fair-skinned individuals

Researchers at Massachusetts General Hospital in collaboration with those from Cancer Research have made new discoveries regarding melanoma, a type of skin cancer. According to the study published in Nature, antioxidants could be new way to prevent this type of cancer. Melanoma is a skin cancer that develops in melanocytes, the cells in which melanin, the pigment that gives skin color, forms.

There are two types of melanin: eumelanin, which is characteristic in individuals with dark hair and, and pheomelanin, which is characteristic in individuals with red hair and pale skin.

It seems that eumelanin protects better than pheomelanin regarding the appearance of skin cancers (basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma). The incidence of these skin cancers that occur most frequently on sun-exposed areas, is lower in these individuals. Melanoma can occur in areas that were not exposed to the sun. Therefore, creams with SPF are not as useful for preventing melanoma.

Red Pigment

The team of researchers at MGH conducted their research on laboratory animals (red mice and dark mice, depending on the pigment in the skin) and found that the incidence of melanoma is higher in red mice following exposure to UV radiation. These results have led researchers to think if maybe the red pigment itself is responsible for the appearance of melanoma. Therefore, they continued their research and genetically disabled the red pigment in mice (albino redheads). After they removed the red pigment pathway, researchers found that these mice were protected from the development of melanoma.

Thus, the pigment itself and not skin type would be responsible for the appearance of this skin cancer.Then, assuming that the pigment itself would be responsible for developing melanoma, the researchers analyzed the DNA of red mice and without red pigment (albino).It was observed that red mice had altered DNA due to damage caused by reactive oxygen species. Reactive oxygen species are unstable and would be the mechanism by which red pigment causes melanoma.

This discovery is important because it can provide a basis for melanoma prevention. However, David Fisher, MD, PhD, chief of the MGH Department of Dermatology, director of the CBRC and senior author of the Nature paper, wanted to point out that treatment with antioxidants is difficult to handle. He said there were times when antioxidants did not prevent and conversely increased oxidative stress. He also stressed the importance of prevention of melanoma. 6 of 7 cases can be cured if the cancer is discovered in time. People who have suspicious lesions should not postpone visit to the dermatologist.