Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41465101›Full record

ArticleGenes2025

Genetic Insight into Expression-Defined Melanoma Subtypes and Network Mechanisms: An in Silico Study.

Desirèe Speranza, Mariapia Marafioti, Martina Musarra, Vincenzo Cianci, Cristina Mondello, Maria Francesca Astorino, Mariacarmela Santarpia, Natasha Irrera, Mario Vaccaro, Nicola Silvestris and 3 more

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Genes, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Observational
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

13 authors.

Desirèe SperanzaDepartment of Chemical, Biological, Pharmaceutical and Environmental Sciences, University of Messina, 98125 Messina, Italy.ORCID 0009-0005-5108-1052
Mariapia MarafiotiSchool of Specialization in Medical Oncology, Department of Human Pathology "G. Barresi", University of Messina, 98125 Messina, Italy.ORCID 0009-0007-8807-6163
Martina MusarraSchool of Specialization in Medical Oncology, Department of Human Pathology "G. Barresi", University of Messina, 98125 Messina, Italy.ORCID 0009-0001-4728-7569
Vincenzo CianciDepartment of Biomedical and Dental Sciences and Morphofunctional Imaging, University of Messina, 98125 Messina, Italy.ORCID 0009-0003-1274-3514
Cristina MondelloDepartment of Biomedical and Dental Sciences and Morphofunctional Imaging, University of Messina, 98125 Messina, Italy.ORCID 0000-0002-4489-9631
Maria Francesca AstorinoDepartment of Biomedical and Dental Sciences and Morphofunctional Imaging, University of Messina, 98125 Messina, Italy.
Mariacarmela SantarpiaMedical Oncology Unit, Department of Human Pathology "G. Barresi", University of Messina, 98125 Messina, Italy.
Natasha IrreraDepartment of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Messina, 98125 Messina, Italy.
Mario VaccaroDepartment of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Messina, 98125 Messina, Italy.ORCID 0000-0003-3787-5145
Nicola SilvestrisMedical Oncology Department, IRCCS Istituto Tumori "Giovanni Paolo II", 70124 Bari, Italy.ORCID 0000-0001-7814-7318
Concetta CrisafulliDepartment of Biomedical and Dental Sciences and Morphofunctional Imaging, University of Messina, 98125 Messina, Italy.
Marco CalabròDepartment of Biomedical and Dental Sciences and Morphofunctional Imaging, University of Messina, 98125 Messina, Italy.
Silvana BriugliaDepartment of Biomedical and Dental Sciences and Morphofunctional Imaging, University of Messina, 98125 Messina, Italy.ORCID 0000-0002-5213-441X

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundMelanoma is a highly heterogeneous neoplasia in which transcriptional profile encodes much of the biological diversity that determines tumor progression and therapeutic response. To refine its molecular stratification and profiles characterization, we conducted an in silico transcriptomic analysis.

methodsPublic microarray datasets from the GEO and ArrayExpress were examined, and the E-MTAB-6697 expression dataset was selected. We used a K-Means clustering algorithm to stratify 194 tumor samples into expression-driven subgroups and analyzed each one to define their transcriptional and biological profiles. Differential expression analysis between identified clusters and controls was performed. Additionally, we applied Weighted-Gene correlation analysis to identify coordinated expression hubs in the tumor dataset and tested the resulting modules for correlation with the identified clusters.

resultsUnsupervised clustering of melanoma transcriptomic profiles identified three distinct molecular subtypes characterized by divergent biological programs. While all clusters shared the dysregulation of pathways involved in epidermal differentiation, immune response, and lipid metabolism, they diverged in proliferation, phenotypic plasticity, metabolic adaptation, and apoptotic regulation. Cluster A was characterized by enrichment in DNA replication, repair, and mitochondrial metabolism modules, suggesting a proliferative yet genomically stable state. Cluster B showed enrichment in immune and cytokine signaling pathways alongside reduced proliferative activity, consistent with a quiescent or transitional phenotype. Cluster C displayed coordinated enrichment in cell-cycle, DNA-maintenance, and neuroectodermal reprogramming pathways, indicating a highly plastic and proliferative subtype. Despite these molecular distinctions, all clusters retained an "immunologically hot" profile (IPS 7-8), indicating potential responsiveness to immunotherapy.

conclusionsThese findings provide an overview of the functional characteristics of melanoma heterogeneity and identify biological processes that could be targeted by drugs for the development of tailored therapies for each subtype. Nevertheless, future studies in independent clinically annotated cohorts would be required.

Indexed as

Gene Expression Regulation, NeoplasticGene Regulatory NetworksMelanomaSkin NeoplasmsTranscriptomeCluster AnalysisComputer SimulationGene Expression ProfilingHumansexpression-based stratificationgenetic heterogeneitylipid metabolismmelanoma

Identifiers

PMID41465101
PMCPMC12732661

What Socratic holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.