594 | id == 594
594 | category_id == 63
594 | category_order == 28
594 | category_name == Skin Health
594 | category_color == #C47AC0
594 | slug == MTAP-melanoma
594 | title == Interferons and Polyamine Metabolism in Melanoma (MTAP)
594 | meta_description == The enzyme encoded by the MTAP gene has significantly reduced activity in melanoma. Dig deeper into the connection here.
594 | summary == <p><strong>The enzyme encoded by the MTAP gene has significantly reduced activity in melanoma. Click here to dig deeper into the connection.</strong></p>
594 | overall_score_text == Your Melanoma Score (based on MTAP)
594 | image == https://sd-selfdecode-assets-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/background/MTAP-AL359922.1-Melanoma.jpg
594 | author_id == 1
594 | author_name == Jasmine Foster
594 | author_title == BSc, BEd
594 | author_order == 36
594 | author_photo == https://sd-selfdecode-assets-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/author-photo/Jasmine.jpg
594 | author_intro == <p><strong>Jasmine received her BS from McGill University and her BEd from Vancouver Island University.</strong></p>    <p>Jasmine loves helping people understand their brains and bodies, a passion that grew out of her dual background in biology and education. From the chem lab to the classroom, everyone has the right to learn and make informed decisions about their health.</p>
594 | reviewer == None
594 | medical_reviewer_id == 11
594 | medical_reviewer_name == Puya Yazdi
594 | medical_reviewer_title == MD
594 | publish_date == 2021
594 | publish_date == 1
594 | publish_date == 8
594 | avg_rating == 5.0
594 | tags_id == 164
594 | tags_name == Cancer
594 | tags_id == 95
594 | tags_name == Immune System
594 | tags_id == 343
594 | tags_name == Interferons
594 | tags_id == 1100
594 | tags_name == Melanoma
594 | tags_id == 1117
594 | tags_name == MTAP Gene
594 | tags_id == 1119
594 | tags_name == Polyamines
594 | tags_id == 1101
594 | tags_name == Skin Cancer
594 | tags_id == 1118
594 | tags_name == STAT1
594 | permissions_favorite == False
594 | permissions_rate == False
594 | content_article == <h2><strong>Summary</strong></h2> <p><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">MTAP</span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;"> encodes methylthioadenosine phosphorylase. Variants of </span><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">MTAP</span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;"> may play a role in melanoma by disrupting polyamine metabolism and decreasing interferon activity. Lifestyle, diet, and supplement modifications may counteract the effects of these variants by avoiding conditions that may be worse for those with low MTAP activity.</span></p> <h2><strong><em>MTAP</em></strong><strong> and Melanoma</strong></h2> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The </span><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">MTAP </span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;">gene encodes an enzyme called methylthioadenosine phosphorylase. This enzyme metabolizes molecules called polyamines, which are essential for cell growth and reproduction. Polyamine levels drop as people age, and low levels are also associated with </span><a href="https://selfhacked.com/blog/63-factors-raising-stress-cortisol-level-backed-science/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">stress</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> and disease [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/gene/4507"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3184975/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">However, polyamine levels tend to be unusually high in cancer cells, possibly due to mutations in these cells. Some researchers have proposed targeting polyamines in future cancer treatments [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3184975/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The </span><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">MTAP</span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;"> gene is physically close to </span><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">P16</span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;">, a gene that prevents the development of tumors. </span><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">P16</span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;"> is often deleted in mutations that cause cancer, and </span><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">MTAP</span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;"> is close enough that it tends to be deleted at the same time. As such, the MTAP enzyme is deficient in many types of cancer, including prostate cancer, osteosarcoma, and soft tissue sarcoma [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/gene/4507"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4924722/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/11895909/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/15301428/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">At least one variant in the </span><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">MTAP</span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;"> gene has been associated with melanoma; researchers believe that risk alleles in </span><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">MTAP</span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;"> lead to reduced expression of this gene and reduced activity of the MTAP enzyme [</span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25826379/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1868213/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27761950/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">MTAP is believed to affect the activity of <a href="https://www.selfdecode.com/gene/stat1/?utm_source=seo&amp;#38;utm_medium=selfhacked&amp;#38;utm_campaign=id00002" target="_blank" rel="noopener">STAT1</a>, which is important in the context of cancer because STAT1 activates interferons alpha and beta (IFN-a and </span><a href="https://www.selfdecode.com/gene/IFNB1/?utm_source=seo&amp;#38;utm_medium=selfhacked&amp;#38;utm_campaign=id00002"><span style="font-weight: 400;">IFN-b</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">). These immune system proteins may be deficient in melanoma, and some researchers have even suggested directly administering interferons in melanoma patients [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1868213/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25511547/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><span style="background-color: #e8ebfc; border-left: 2px solid #4569fa; display: block; padding: 20px;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">The enzyme encoded by the </span><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">MTAP</span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;"> gene has significantly reduced activity in melanoma. This association may arise because MTAP stimulates the activity of interferons, which in turn may suppress melanoma development.</span></span></p> <h2><strong>Your </strong><strong><em>MTAP</em></strong><strong> Results for Melanoma</strong></h2> <p>*9527977869915585*</p> <p><a href="https://selfdecode.com/gene/mtap/"><strong>MTAP</strong></a> <a href="https://selfdecode.com/snp/rs7023329/"><strong>rs7023329</strong></a> <span style="font-weight: 400;">[</span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25826379/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5392271/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://europepmc.org/article/med/21983787"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">]</span></p> <ul> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">&lsquo;A&rsquo; = Associated with relatively higher rates of melanoma</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">&lsquo;G&rsquo; = Associated with relatively lower rates of melanoma</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">The &lsquo;G&rsquo; allele may increase MTAP enzyme activity, leading to higher interferon levels and reduced incidence of melanoma [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1868213/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25511547/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></li> </ul> <p>*7751512495130419*</p> <h2><strong>Recommendations for Preventing Melanoma</strong></h2> <p>*9477376122883447*</p> <h3><strong>Avoid UV Exposure</strong></h3> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Variation in the </span><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">MTAP</span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;"> gene is associated with the development of moles in response to UV radiation exposure through </span><a href="https://selfhacked.com/blog/avoiding-sun-will-kill-14-proven-science-based-health-benefits-sun/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">sunlight</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">. This association suggests that MTAP may influence how sensitive the skin is to UV [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3266856/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Excessive, unprotected exposure to </span><a href="https://selfhacked.com/blog/avoiding-sun-will-kill-14-proven-science-based-health-benefits-sun/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">UV</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> radiation is by far the main risk factor for the development of melanoma. UV from both the </span><a href="https://selfhacked.com/blog/avoiding-sun-will-kill-14-proven-science-based-health-benefits-sun/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">sun</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> and artificial sources (tanning beds and sun lamps) damages the DNA of pigment-producing cells (melanocytes), potentially causing mutations that turn these cells into melanomas [</span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25398793/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29936410/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24629998/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">People with low levels of the pigment melanin, who typically have fair skin, blond or red hair, and light-colored eyes, are at higher risk of melanoma than those with dark skin [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/31002590"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Alternatively, every single mole has a small probability of turning into cancer. Having a high number of moles, especially if they are large or have atypical features, also increases the risk of this skin cancer type [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2545764/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26934430"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Reducing exposure to </span><a href="https://selfhacked.com/blog/avoiding-sun-will-kill-14-proven-science-based-health-benefits-sun/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">UV</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> by limiting sun exposure (especially during the middle of the day), wearing protective clothing and sunscreen, and being aware of skin-sensitizing medications can greatly reduce the risk of melanoma.</span></p> <p><span style="background-color: #e8ebfc; border-left: 2px solid #4569fa; display: block; padding: 20px;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">MTAP may help protect the skin from damage due to UV radiation exposure; it may therefore be especially important to protect yourself from UV if you have low-activity </span><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">MTAP</span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;"> variants.</span></span></p> <h3><strong>B Vitamins</strong></h3> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">A cancer study in mice found that MTAP was required for normal </span><a href="https://selfhacked.com/blog/16-proven-benefits-vitamin-b9-folate-folic-acid/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">folate</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> (</span><a href="https://selfhacked.com/blog/16-proven-benefits-vitamin-b9-folate-folic-acid/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">vitamin B9</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">) metabolism. Animals with normal MTAP and animals lacking MTAP were fed a diet deficient in </span><a href="https://selfhacked.com/blog/16-proven-benefits-vitamin-b9-folate-folic-acid/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">folate</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">; those with low MTAP developed metabolic symptoms that could be reversed by supplementing folate. Though the interaction between MTAP and folate is complex, researchers have suggested that it may help explain why folate deficiency has been linked to prostate cancer [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4924722/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Supplementation with a combination of </span><a href="http://selfhacked.com/blog/vitamin-b6/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">vitamin B6</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> (pyridoxine), </span><a href="https://selfhacked.com/blog/16-proven-benefits-vitamin-b9-folate-folic-acid/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">B9</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> (as </span><a href="https://selfhacked.com/blog/16-proven-benefits-vitamin-b9-folate-folic-acid/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">folic acid</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">), and </span><a href="https://www.selfhacked.com/blog/thiamine/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">B1</span></a><a href="https://selfhacked.com/blog/vitamin-b12/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">2</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> (</span><a href="https://selfhacked.com/blog/vitamin-b12-test/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">cobalamin</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">) was associated with a reduced incidence of melanoma in 3 studies of over 119,000 people [</span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22474057/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16531613/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2593624/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">According to the National Institutes of Health, the average adult needs 400 mcg of folate per day. The richest food sources of folate include liver and leafy green vegetables. This vitamin is also available as a supplement, the most bioavailable form being methylfolate [</span><a href="https://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/Folate-HealthProfessional/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400; background-color: #e8ebfc; border-left: 2px solid #4569fa; display: block; padding: 20px;">MTAP and folate (vitamin B9) interact in a complex pathway that may help protect against the development of cancer; supplementation with a combination of B vitamins may reduce the incidence of melanoma.</span></p>
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594 | content_learn_more_7751512495130419_text == Based on the variants we looked at, your MTAP gene is somewhat associated with disrupted polyamine metabolism and interferon activity. However, this doesn't necessarily reflect your overall risk of melanoma; it’s just one gene related to it. Avoiding UV exposure and supplementing with folate may help. Keep scrolling to find out more.
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rsIDs = rs7023329
rsStatus = rs7023329,MTAP,chr9,21816529,A,G,,,12,17,HET
