Melanoma progression and prognostic models drawn from single-cell, spatial maps of benign and malignant tumors.

ABSTRACT: Melanoma clinical outcomes emerge from incompletely understood genetic mechanisms operating within the tumor and its microenvironment. Here, we used single-cell RNA-based spatial molecular imaging (RNA-SMI) in patient-derived archival tumors to reveal clinically relevant markers of malignancy progression and prognosis. We examined spatial gene expression of 203,472 cells inside benign and malignant melanocytic neoplasms, including melanocytic nevi and primary invasive and metastatic melanomas. Algorithmic cell clustering paired with intratumoral comparative two-dimensional analyses visualized synergistic, spatial gene signatures linking cellular proliferation, metabolism, and malignancy, validated by protein expression. Metastatic niches included up-regulation of CDK2 and FABP5</

SUBMITTER: Love NR 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11244543 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature