There is a well-described association between UV radiation exposure from the sun and the development of melanoma. The development of melanoma independent of sun exposure has only recently been described in mice.

So what is the association between melanocortin-1 (MC1R) receptor and melanoma risk in humans after controlling for sun exposure?

An article published online by JAMA Dermatology by Judith Wendt, M.D., Ph.D., of the Medical University of Vienna, Austria, and coauthors details a hospital-based study they conducted that included genetic testing, questionnaires and other data among 991 patients with melanoma and 800 control patients for comparison.

The study findings suggest carriers of MC1R variants were at higher risk of melanoma independent of their sun exposure.

"Further studies are required to better elucidate the molecular mechanisms underlying melanoma development under altered MC1R function," the study concludes.

Article: Human Determinants and the Role of Melanocortin-1 Receptor Variants in Melanoma Risk Independent of UV Radiation Exposure, Judith Wendt, MD, PhD; Sabine Rauscher, MSc; Sebastian Burgstaller-Muehlbacher, PhD; Ingrid Fae, MSc; Gottfried Fischer, MD; Hubert Pehamberger, MD; Ichiro Okamoto, MD, JAMA Dermatology, doi:10.1001/jamadermatol.2016.0050, published online 6 April 2016.

The article contains funding/support disclosures. Please see the article for additional information, including author contributions and affiliations, financial disclosures, funding and support, etc.

Editorial: Red Hair, Light Skin, and UV-Independent Risk for Melanoma Development in Humans, Elisabeth M. Roider, MD; David E. Fisher, MD, PhD, JAMA Dermatology, doi:10.1001/jamadermatol.2016.0524, published online 6 April 2016.