biostudies-literatureUnknown20(1)Wu ZUniversitätsklinik MünchenThe M2-like tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) are independent prognostic factors in melanoma. We performed weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA) to identify the module most correlated with M2-like TAMs. The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) patients were classified into two clusters that differed based on prognosis and biological function, with consensus clustering. A prognostic model was established based on the differentially expressed genes (DEGs) of the two clusters. We investigated the difference in immune cell infiltration and immune response-related gene expression between the high and low risk score groups. The risk score was defined as an independent prognostic value in melanoma. VARS1 was a hub gene in the M2-like macrophage-associated WGCNA module that the DepMap portaJournal of translational medicine489https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC9615154biostudies-literatureTranscriptome-based network analysis related to M2-like tumor-associated macrophage infiltration identified VARS1 as a potential target for improving melanoma immunotherapy efficacy.PMC9615154Wu ZLi HLei KHe JShi EfalseTranscriptome-based network analysis related to M2-like tumor-associated macrophage infiltration identified VARS1 as a potential target for improving melanoma immunotherapy efficacy.The M2-like tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) are independent prognostic factors in melanoma. We performed weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA) to identify the module most correlated with M2-like TAMs. The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) patients were classified into two clusters that differed based on prognosis and biological function, with consensus clustering. A prognostic model was established based on the differentially expressed genes (DEGs) of the two clusters. We investigated the difference in immune cell infiltration and immune response-related gene expression between the high and low risk score groups. The risk score was defined as an independent prognostic value in melanoma. VARS1 was a hub gene in the M2-like macrophage-associated WGCNA module that the DepMap porta2022-01-01T00:00:00Z2022 Oct2025-05-31T22:35:35.457Z2024-11-10T02:42:34.791ZS-EPMC96151543630316210.1186/s12967-022-03686-z