A single-cell analysis reveals tumor heterogeneity and immune environment of acral melanoma.

ABSTRACT: Acral melanoma is a dismal subtype of melanoma occurring in glabrous acral skin, and has a higher incidence in East Asians. We perform single-cell RNA sequencing for 63,394 cells obtained from 5 acral and 3 cutaneous melanoma samples to investigate tumor heterogeneity and immune environment. We define 5 orthogonal functional cell clusters that are involved in TGF-beta signaling, Type I interferon, Wnt signaling, Cell cycle, and Cholesterol efflux signaling. Signatures of enriched TGF-beta, Type I interferon, and cholesterol efflux signaling are significantly associated with good prognosis of melanoma. Compared with cutaneous melanoma, acral melanoma samples have significantly severe immunosuppressive state including depletion of cytotoxic CD8+ T cells, enrichment of Treg cells, and exhaust

SUBMITTER: Zhang C 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9700682 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature