Integrative analysis of DNA methylation and gene expression in skin cutaneous melanoma by bioinformatic approaches

Skin cutaneous melanoma represents a significant threat among skin cancers. Investigating key methylated genes with prognostic implications remains an area ripe for exploration in this field. This study aims to identify survival-associated methylated genes and their specific methylation sites in skin cutaneous melanoma through integrated bioinformatic analysis. Utilizing data from the Cancer Genome Atlas database, gene methylation and expression files were analyzed. The results indicate that patients with skin cutaneous melanoma exhibiting high expression of hypomethylated HHEX experience better outcomes compared to those with low expression of hypermethylated HHEX. Furthermore, fifteen methylation sites within HHEX were found to significantly correlate with its expression levels. Expression of HHEX demonstrated a downward trend across pathological stages I-IV. The identified driven gene, HHEX, likely plays a crucial role in the survival of skin cutaneous melanoma patients. These findings provide new epigenetic insights and potential targets for early prognosis prediction in skin cutaneous melanoma.