Project description:To explore the role of long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) in melanoma progression, we performed lncRNAs microarray to identify differentially expressed lncRNAs between primary melanoma and nevus.
Project description:A substantial part of cutaneous malignant melanomas develops from benign nevi. However, the precise molecular events driving the transformation from benign to malignant melanoma are not well understood. We used laser microdissection and mass spectrometry to analyze the proteomes of melanoma subtypes, including superficial spreading melanomas (SSM, n=17), nodular melanomas (NM, n=17), and acral melanomas (AM, n=15). Furthermore, we compared the proteomes of nevi cells and melanoma cells within the same specimens (nevus-associated melanoma (NAM, n=14)). In total, we quantified 7,935 proteins. Despite the genomic and clinical differences of the melanoma subtypes, our analysis revealed relatively similar proteomes, except for the upregulation of proteins involved in immune activation in NM vs AM. Examining NAM versus nevi, we found 1,725 differentially expressed proteins. Among these proteins were 140 that overlapped with cancer hallmarks, tumor suppressors, and regulators of metabolism and cell cycle. Pathway analysis indicated aberrant activation of the RAS/MAPK and PI3K-AKT-mTOR pathways, as well as the Hippo-YAP pathway. Using a classifier, we identified six proteins capable of distinguishing melanoma from nevi samples. Our study represents the first comprehensive comparative analysis of the proteome in melanoma subtypes and associated nevi, offering new insights into the biological behavior of these distinct entities.
Project description:We sought to identify genes and gene signatures which correlate with progression by sampling human melanomas from nevi, primary, and metastatic tumors. The large number of samples also permits analysis within groups. Human melanoma samples were isolated from historical frozen patient specimens. RNA was extracted and run on the human Affymetrix U133A microarray chip.
Project description:The purpose of this study was to comprehensively study and compare the molecular gene expression profiles of common melanocytic nevi (GSE53223), dysplastic nevi (GSE53223), and primary melanoma.
Project description:Cutaneous melanoma is an increasingly common form of skin cancer. The molecular mechanisms regulating melanoma progression are not completely understood. We speculated that specific miRNAs may be involved in melanoma development. We compared the miRNA expression profiles of benign nevi and metastatic melanomas. Unsupervised hierarchical clustering demonstrated a distinct miRNA expression pattern in metastatic melanomas compared to nevi. We identified miRNAs that were differentially expressed in melanoma. Notably, miR-193b was significantly down-regulated in the melanoma tissue examined. Using functional studies we demonstrated that over-expression of miR-193b significantly reduced melanoma cell proliferation, and arrested cell at G1 phase. Further gene expression analysis revealed that miR-193b regulated targets involved in cell cycle. Cyclin D1 was down-regulated by miR-193b at both the mRNA and protein level. This is the first study to show that the miR-193b may reduce cell proliferation by directly repressing cyclin D1. Overall, our study suggests that miRNAs are dysregulated in metastatic melanoma, and that miR-193b may play an important role in melanoma. 8 benign nevi and 8 metastatic melanoma tissue samples were profiled by Agilent MicroRNA Microarray (V1.5).
Project description:Despite malignant cutaneous melanoma is relatively rare compared to other skin cancers, it is still responsible for 80% of all skin cancer-related deaths. To identify molecular signatures of melanoma progression, excisional biopsies from 18 common melanocytic nevi (CMN), 8 primary radial growth phase melanomas (RGPM), 15 primary vertical growth phase melanomas (VGPM) and 5 melanoma metastases (MTS) were profiled using whole genome oligo-microarrays. Differentially expressed genes for each progression step were identified, and validation of selected transcripts by qRT-PCR was performed on an independent cohort of fixed samples. The comparison between CMN and RGPM showed an enrichment of Gene Ontology (GO) terms related to inter and intra-cellular junctions, whereas the transition from RGPM to VGPM was characterized by the deregulation of WNT3, MAPK and AKT pathways. In this step, enrichment analysis underlined the alteration of biological processes linked to apoptosis. Upregulation of genes involved into DNA double-strand breaks repair and downregulation of cellular adhesion genes were observed in MTS respect to VGPM. Futhermore, the gene expression profiles of 11 dysplastic nevi (DN) were compared to all the others. Some genes controlling proliferation were found more expressed than in CMN. Overall, DN displayed an heterogeneous behaviour, with relevant oncogenes, such as MYC and BCL6, less expressed than in RGPM, and a modulation pattern similar to VGPM for a subset of gene families, such as mismatch repair. This suggests that DN is not an intermediate step within melanoma progression, but a separate entity with an independent risk of progression to melanoma Keywords: Melanoma progression, gene expression profiling, qPCR
Project description:The molecular properties of benign melanocytic lesions are poorly understood. Only few studies have been performed on specific nevi subtypes, including common nevocellular nevi (NCN) or Spitz nevi (SN). Genomic alterations in melanoma-associated oncogenes are typically absent in SN. In the present study, mRNA expression of 25 SN and 15 NCN were analyzed. Molecular profiling was done using the RNA NanoString nCounter Gene Expression Platform (No. of genes = 770). Marker discovery was performed with a training set consisting of 7 SN and 7 NCN samples from the same patients, and validation was performed using a second set consisting of 18 SN and 8 NCN samples. Using the training set, 197 differentially expressed genes were identified in SN versus NCN. Of these, 74 genes validated in the validation set (FDR Q value ≤ 0.13). In addition, using Random Forest and LASSO feature selection a molecular signature of SN versus NCN was identified including 15 top-ranked genes. Gene set analysis showed upregulation of gene pathways with increased expression of transcripts related to immunomodulatory, inflammatory and extracellular matrix interactions as well as angiogenesis associated processes in SN. Although the molecular characteristics of malignant melanoma have been studied in detail, the molecular properties of benign melanocytic lesions such as common nevocellular nevi (NCN) and Spitz nevi (SN) remain poorly understood. This limited knowledge hinders a better understanding of atypical and malignant transformation of melanocytes. The present study identified a distinct molecular expression profile in SN compared to NCN, even when lesions were obtained from the same patients. These findings strongly indicate that SN represent a distinct group of melanocytic neoplasms and evolve differentially and not sequentially from NCN.
Project description:We sought to identify genes and gene signatures which correlate with progression by sampling human melanomas from nevi, primary, and metastatic tumors. The large number of samples also permits analysis within groups.
Project description:Cutaneous melanoma is an increasingly common form of skin cancer. The molecular mechanisms regulating melanoma progression are not completely understood. We speculated that specific miRNAs may be involved in melanoma development. We compared the miRNA expression profiles of benign nevi and metastatic melanomas. Unsupervised hierarchical clustering demonstrated a distinct miRNA expression pattern in metastatic melanomas compared to nevi. We identified miRNAs that were differentially expressed in melanoma. Notably, miR-193b was significantly down-regulated in the melanoma tissue examined. Using functional studies we demonstrated that over-expression of miR-193b significantly reduced melanoma cell proliferation, and arrested cell at G1 phase. Further gene expression analysis revealed that miR-193b regulated targets involved in cell cycle. Cyclin D1 was down-regulated by miR-193b at both the mRNA and protein level. This is the first study to show that the miR-193b may reduce cell proliferation by directly repressing cyclin D1. Overall, our study suggests that miRNAs are dysregulated in metastatic melanoma, and that miR-193b may play an important role in melanoma.