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we know more about how moles become melanoma than we did last week

researchers have found that environmental signals dictate whether or not a mole progresses to deadly skin cancer.

by maija kappler

nov 29 2021
read time 3 minute read
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we know more about how moles become melanoma than we did last week
benign moles and melanoma have a lot in common. (getty)

harmless moles and cancerous melanomas are more similar than you might think: they’re both skin tumours, and they’re both formed from the same kind of cell. but one simply sits on your skin, while the other is the most serious form of skin cancer . at what point does the benign become dangerous, and what can be done to prevent it?

new research from the huntsman cancer institute at the university of utah show that environmental factors have a bigger impact than previously believed. the findings can help people understand how to prevent moles from turning into melanomas. “we discovered a new molecular mechanism that explains how moles form, how melanomas form, and why moles sometimes become melanomas,” dr. robert judson-torres, one of the study’s authors, told the centre’s news outlet .

most moles and many melanomas (75 per cent and 50 per cent, respectively) occur when there are changes activated in melanocytes, the cells that darken the skin to protect it from the sun. these changes are called braf gene mutations , and they also occur in other kinds of illnesses, including cancer of the lung and colon.

the study, published in the journal elife sciences, wanted to understand what, besides the presence of these multiple gene mutations, causes melanoma. before the huntsman study, it was understood that having just one of these mutations — the brafv600e mutation, to be specific — stopped the cell from dividing, which resulted in a mole. it’s when the brafv600e mutation is present with other mutations that melanoma occurs, because the cells continue to divide uncontrollably.

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“a number of studies have challenged this model in recent years,” judson-torres said. “these studies have provided excellent data… but what they have all lacked is an alternative explanation, which has remained elusive.”
the research team looked at moles and melanomas using transcriptomic profiling, which helps them see molecular differences between moles and melanomas, and digital holographic cytometry, which tracks changes in human cells. they discovered that additional gene mutations aren’t the only way these skin cells turn into melanoma. the melanocytes are also impacted by environmental signals, which indicate to them whether they should divide uncontrollably (causing melanoma) or simply stop dividing (causing a benign mole). they express genes in different environments, judson-torres explained.
“origins of melanoma being dependent on environmental signals gives a new outlook in prevention and treatment,” he said. “it also plays a role in trying to combat melanoma by preventing and targeting genetic mutations. we might also be able to combat melanoma by changing the environment.”
the researchers hope to use the information to continue research on what kinds of environmental signals are significant in impacting these cells. and the study can help doctors with early detection of cancerous changes in the blood, judson-torres said.
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melanoma is distressingly common, and is on the rise — especially in women under 40. in the 1930s, it affected about one in 1500 people, according to the melanoma network of canada — less than 100 years later, that number has ballooned to one in 63 people.

as with any form of cancer, early detection can make an enormous difference. seek medical help if you develop a new mole, or if an existing appears to change in size, shape or colour. (the abcde method tells you to look for moles that are asymmetrical in shape, have an irregular border, an uneven distribution of colour, a large diameter, and evolution in any of these.) but remember that melanoma doesn’t always show up in the form of a mole, and they can sometimes be hidden in areas that don’t get a lot of sun exposure, like the bottom of the feet.
for more information about melanoma, and to connect with others, visit save your skin foundation, melanoma network of canada or the canadian cancer society.
maija kappler is a reporter and editor with healthing. she can be reached at mkappler@postmedia.com.

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