Comprehensive molecular analysis of uveal melanoma identifies targets in tumor-intrinsic and tumor-extrinsic pathways.

ABSTRACT: In uveal melanoma (UM), the most common primary intraocular tumor, up to half of patients develop fatal metastases despite high local tumor control. Effective treatments for genetically high-risk tumors remain limited, largely due to challenges posed by cancer stem cells (CSCs) and the tumor microenvironment (TME), which sustain tumor progression and resistance. Our study evaluated stemness properties in UM tumor cells, focusing on STAT3 and ANGPTL4, markers linked to cancer aggressiveness and stem-like niches. Using patient samples, we analyzed the TME and CSCs via immune microarrays, RNA in situ hybridization, immunohistochemistry, and bioinformatics, generating comprehensive expression profiles. TNFRSF14 and IKBKE were identified as biomarkers of disea

SUBMITTER: Cernichiaro-Espinosa LA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12594941 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature