A recent UC Davis-led study, published in the Journal of Investigative Dermatology, explains cell type-specific biomarkers or signs of melanoma.

The study investigated the expression of over 1,000 genes in 134 regions of interest enriched for melanocytes, as well as neighboring keratinocytes or immune cells. These tissues were taken from patient biopsies from 12 tumors, ranging from benign to malignant.

The researchers found that melanoma biomarkers were expressed by specific cell types, some by the tumor cells but others by neighboring cells in the tumor microenvironment. 

They also observed that S100A8, which is a known melanoma marker thought to be expressed by immune cells, was expressed by keratinocytes which are epidermal cells that have multiple functions including the control of the growth of melanocytes.

S100A8 expression by keratinocytes within the tumor microenvironment during melanoma growth was an unexpected finding.

The researchers also observed S100A8 expression in 252 benign and malignant melanocytic tumors, which demonstrated prominent keratinocyte-derived S100A8 expression in melanoma but not in benign tumors, suggesting S100A8 expression in the epidermis to be a readily detectable indicator of melanoma development.

This study contributes to identifying markers of early melanoma development, in the tumor microenvironment. 

Source: News Medical Life Sciences [Internet]. Study sheds light on cell type-specific biomarkers of melanoma. July 10, 2022. Available from: https://www.news-medical.net/news/20220710/Study-sheds-light-on-cell-type-specific-biomarkers-of-melanoma.aspx