ERCC6L promotes cutaneous melanoma progression via PLK1-mediated aerobic glycolysis: Mechanisms and therapeutic...

To elucidate the oncogenic role and mechanistic basis of ERCC6L in cutaneous melanoma, focusing on its impact on tumor metabolism and progression.

Multi-omics bioinformatics analysis of public datasets (GEO, TCGA) defined the clinical relevance of ERCC6L. In vitro functional assays (CCK-8, colony formation, Transwell, flow cytometry) were performed in melanoma cell lines following genetic manipulation. Mechanistic studies employed gene set enrichment analysis, chromatin immunoprecipitation-quantitative PCR, dual-luciferase reporter assays, western blotting, and metabolic flux analysis. The functional significance of the ERCC6L-PLK1 axis was validated in an NSG mouse subcutaneous xenograft model.

ERCC6L is significantly upregulated in melanoma tissues, and its high expression is an independent prognostic factor for poor survival. Genetic ablation of ERCC6L potently inhibited melanoma cell proliferation, migration, invasion, and tumor growth, while promoting apoptosis. Mechanistically, ERCC6L transcriptionally activates PLK1 by directly binding to its promoter. This ERCC6L-PLK1 axis drives aerobic glycolysis (the Warburg effect), upregulating key glycolytic enzymes (GLUT1, LDHA, PKM2, HK2) and enhancing lactate production and ATP generation. Crucially, PLK1 inhibition or glycolysis blockade effectively reversed the tumor-promoting phenotypes induced by ERCC6L.

Our study identifies ERCC6L as a novel upstream transcriptional regulator of PLK1 that fuels melanoma progression by reprogramming glucose metabolism. The ERCC6L-PLK1-glycolysis axis represents a promising prognostic biomarker and a potential therapeutic target for cutaneous melanoma.