Pathophysiology:
Cells in the body go through a natural state of mitosis where they replicate copies of themselves. Once a cell realizes there isn’t any more room for growing or sees a defect in itself, the cell goes through apoptosis (cell death). However, there are instances where a cell doesn’t recognize it has a defect or mutation and it starts to affect the shape of the cell. Once this mutated cell starts mitosis, it will regenerate a lot of undifferentiated cells, which turn into a neoplasm or tumor. Some tumors are benign and do not cause any problems, but other tumors can be malignant or cancerous. Malignant cancer can spread to surrounding tissues, metastasize, and become invasive. Some cancers exist from the environment while others are inherited. Proliferation of the malignant undifferentiated cells occurs and the carcinoma becomes in situ. A …show more content…
The study explains a mutation in MC1R-RHC encourages a cancer-causing pathway when red-haired people are exposed to UV radiation. The MC1R, which helps with tanning od the skin, usually is primary in protecting melanocytes from damaged DNA. The researcher worked on a series of experiments that provided that in normal circumstances, MC1R would bind to the tumor suppressor gene PTEN. PTEN acts against cancer and without it, the cancer-causing pathway opens. They found many redheaded individuals lack this suppressor gene. The researchers also recognized that if the cancer-causing pathway is elevated in activity, it actually boosts cell proliferation for another cancer mutation for accelerates the development of cancer. Wei (2013) explains that this finds a “molecular mechanism as to why red-haired individuals harboring MC1R mutations are much more susceptible to UV-induced skin damage than individuals with darker skin, resulting in a 10-to 100-fold higher frequency of melanoma.” (p.
Cells in the body go through a natural state of mitosis where they replicate copies of themselves. Once a cell realizes there isn’t any more room for growing or sees a defect in itself, the cell goes through apoptosis (cell death). However, there are instances where a cell doesn’t recognize it has a defect or mutation and it starts to affect the shape of the cell. Once this mutated cell starts mitosis, it will regenerate a lot of undifferentiated cells, which turn into a neoplasm or tumor. Some tumors are benign and do not cause any problems, but other tumors can be malignant or cancerous. Malignant cancer can spread to surrounding tissues, metastasize, and become invasive. Some cancers exist from the environment while others are inherited. Proliferation of the malignant undifferentiated cells occurs and the carcinoma becomes in situ. A …show more content…
The study explains a mutation in MC1R-RHC encourages a cancer-causing pathway when red-haired people are exposed to UV radiation. The MC1R, which helps with tanning od the skin, usually is primary in protecting melanocytes from damaged DNA. The researcher worked on a series of experiments that provided that in normal circumstances, MC1R would bind to the tumor suppressor gene PTEN. PTEN acts against cancer and without it, the cancer-causing pathway opens. They found many redheaded individuals lack this suppressor gene. The researchers also recognized that if the cancer-causing pathway is elevated in activity, it actually boosts cell proliferation for another cancer mutation for accelerates the development of cancer. Wei (2013) explains that this finds a “molecular mechanism as to why red-haired individuals harboring MC1R mutations are much more susceptible to UV-induced skin damage than individuals with darker skin, resulting in a 10-to 100-fold higher frequency of melanoma.” (p.