Multi-modal omics analysis of a paediatric melanoma highlights mechanisms underlying treatment resistance

Cutaneous malignant melanoma is a common cancer in adults but extremely rare in young children, affecting fewer than one child per million each year in Europe. Because of its rarity, most treatments for children are adapted from adult therapies, despite possible biological differences. This study aimed to explore the molecular features of a rare and aggressive melanoma in a 16-month-old patient to understand disease progression and treatment resistance.

We studied the tumour and metastases of a patient with a melanoma carrying an NRAS mutation, who received chemotherapy and immune checkpoint inhibitor treatment. The patient died 10 months after diagnosis. We used DNA methylation analysis, single-nucleus RNA sequencing, and deep spatial transcriptomic profiling to examine genetic changes, gene activity, and their spatial distribution in both the primary tumour and lymph node metastases.

Here, we show that the tumour displayed high genetic and transcriptomic diversity. We identified increases in MITF and BRAF gene copies as likely key drivers of the aggressive disease, which were not detected at diagnosis. We also found activation of biological pathways, including VEGFA and WNT signalling, and abnormal activity of several genes linked to immune therapy response, with marked variation between tumour regions.

This case demonstrates that paediatric melanoma can harbour complex and spatially variable molecular changes that contribute to rapid disease progression and treatment failure. Our findings support incorporating detailed spatial transcriptional profiling into clinical assessment to better guide therapy in rare paediatric cancers.