Melanoma microsatellites exhibit a metastatic signature by spatial transcriptomics and overexpress mediators of immune evasion.

ABSTRACT: Microsatellites in melanoma are physically separate from the primary tumor, are hypothesized to arise by lymphovascular invasion similar to other metastases, and have not been previously studied at the molecular level. We compared gene expression in microsatellites with the matched primary melanoma in two patients using spatial transcriptomics. We identified recurrently altered genes in microsatellites contributing to vascular invasion (ITGA4, MCAM), survival in the circulation (CXCL8, PDGFRB, CDH1), vascular exit (ITGB2), survival at metastatic sites (C3, TGBFI), matrix remodeling (MMP9, VCAN, FN1, BGN), and angiogenesis (EMILIN2). Gene set enrichment analysis confirmed a metastatic signature in comparison to genes upregulated and downregulated in distant melanoma metastases, and identifi

SUBMITTER: Warren SJ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12748302 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature