MC1R and neoplasm: In the Li et al. metastatic malignant melanoma study, the combination of a 212Pb conjugated melanocortin-1-receptor (MC1R) peptide ligand, a BRAF inhibitor (direct inhibition of BRAF protein), and a histone deacetylase inhibitor resulted in increased levels of MC1R, thus increasing MC1R-MC1L binding, which in turn enhanced 212Pb uptake in human melanoma cells in the mouse model, decreased tumor growth, and ultimately increased survival [34].