It has been hypothesised that pigmentation-related traits may influence prostate cancer risk, possibly through altered vitamin D synthesis, owing to a finding in the Alpha-Tocopherol, Beta-Carotene Cancer Prevention Study that men with naturally red hair (which is determined by polymorphisms in the melanocortin-1-receptor (MC1R) gene) had a lower risk of prostate cancer compared to men with light brown hair (Weinstein et al, 2013); however, no significant association between naturally red hair and prostate cancer risk was observed in the current study. The gene discussed is MC1R; the disease is prostate carcinoma.