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Updated: Jul 1, 2025

A Robust Discovery Platform for the Identification of Novel Mediators of Melanoma Metastasis
Published on: March 8, 2022
Transcriptome and single-cell transcriptomics reveal prognostic value and potential mechanism of anoikis in skin
Xing Liu1, Hong-Yan Zhang2, Hong-Ao Deng3
1Medical Center of Burn Plastic and Wound Repair, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang, 330006, Jiangxi, China.
Background:
Skin cutaneous melanoma (SKCM) is a highly lethal cancer, ranking among the top four deadliest cancers. This underscores the urgent need for novel biomarkers for SKCM diagnosis and prognosis. Anoikis plays a vital role in cancer growth and metastasis, and this study aims to investigate its prognostic value and mechanism of action in SKCM.
Methods:
Utilizing consensus clustering, the SKCM samples were categorized into two distinct clusters A and B based on anoikis-related genes (ANRGs), with the B group exhibiting lower disease-specific survival (DSS). Gene set enrichment between distinct clusters was examined using Gene Set Variation Analysis (GSVA) and the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) analysis.
Results:
We created a predictive model based on three anoikis-related differently expressed genes (DEGs), specifically, FASLG, IGF1, and PIK3R2. Moreover, the mechanism of these prognostic genes within the model was investigated at the cellular level using the single-cell sequencing dataset GSE115978. This analysis revealed that the FASLG gene was highly expressed on cluster 1 of Exhausted CD8( +) T (Tex) cells.
Conclusions:
In conclusion, we have established a novel classification system for SKCM based on anoikis, which carries substantial clinical implications for SKCM patients. Notably, the elevated expression of the FASLG gene on cluster 1 of Tex cells could significantly impact SKCM prognosis through anoikis, thus offering a promising target for the development of immunotherapy for SKCM.

