Exploration of the roles of CAFs in melanoma based on single-cell transcriptomics and spatial transcriptomics.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) are increasingly recognized as critical contributors to the limited efficacy of immunotherapy, particularly through the establishment of immune-excluded tumor microenvironments. However, the functional heterogeneity and spatial ecological roles of CAFs in melanoma remain poorly characterized.

Methods

We integrated single-cell RNA sequencing, spatial transcriptomics, and bulk RNA-seq data to systematically dissect CAF molecular programs in melanoma using weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA). Spatial distribution, CellChat, and ligand-receptor interaction analyses were applied to construct CAF-centered immune exclusion networks. A functional scoring model (riskScore) based on the CAF-M1 module was developed to eva

SUBMITTER: Hong S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12618749 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature