Identification of Potential Prognostic Biomarkers Associated With Cancerometastasis in Skin Cutaneous Melanoma.

Yang Li,Ping Wang,Suyang Huang,Jianzhong He,Zhe Gao,Yunyun Shan,Weifeng Zha,Shanshan Lyu

doi:10.3389/fgene.2021.687979

Abstract

Skin cutaneous melanoma (SKCM) is a highly aggressive tumor. The mortality and drug resistance among it are high. Thus, exploring predictive biomarkers for prognosis has become a priority. We aimed to find immune cell-based biomarkers for survival prediction. Here 321 genes were differentially expressed in immune-related groups after ESTIMATE analysis and differential analysis. Two hundred nineteen of them were associated with the metastasis of SKCM via weighted gene co-expression network analysis. Twenty-six genes in this module were hub genes. Twelve of the 26 genes were related to overall survival in SKCM patients. After a multivariable Cox regression analysis, we obtained six of these genes (PLA2G2D, IKZF3, MS4A1, ZC3H12D, FCRL3, and P2RY10) that were independent prognostic signatures, and a survival model of them performed excellent predictive efficacy. The results revealed several essential genes that may act as significant prognostic factors of SKCM, which could deepen our understanding of the metastatic mechanisms and improve cancer treatment.

Highlights

Skin cutaneous melanoma (SKCM) is a high-mortality-rate malignant tumor caused by abnormal melanocyte proliferation in neural crest cells (Bray et al, 2018; Siegel et al, 2020)
The enrichment results showed that the immune-related differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were mainly enriched in the chemokine signaling pathway, cytokine–cytokine receptor interaction, primary immunodeficiency (KEGG) (Figure 2C), lymphocyte-mediated immunity, T cell activation, and regulation of immune effector processes (GO terms) (Figure 2D)
The stromal DEGs were mainly enriched in cytokine–cytokine receptor interactions, antigen processing and presentation, natural killer cell-mediated cytotoxicity (KEGG) (Figure 2E), regulation of inflammatory response, and cellular response to chemokine (GO terms) (Figure 2F)

Summary

Introduction

Skin cutaneous melanoma (SKCM) is a high-mortality-rate malignant tumor caused by abnormal melanocyte proliferation in neural crest cells (Bray et al, 2018; Siegel et al, 2020). The mortality rate of SKCM patients was significantly higher than that of other malignant tumors (Ekwueme et al, 2011). SKCM seriously threatens public health and has become one of the evilest tumors worldwide (Gershenwald et al, 2017). The treatment of the tumor microenvironment (TME) as a new treatment strategy has attracted public attention (Yang et al, 2018). It is composed of numerous cell types and is involved in the occurrence and invasion of tumors (Hanahan and Weinberg, 2000). With the development of tumor cytology and molecular biology, a deeper understanding of TME is essential to reveal improved immunotherapy

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