Spatial Analysis Reveals Gene Expression and Microenvironmental Changes in the Transition of Nevus to Melanoma.

Spatial analysis uncovers that melanoma transition involves a 3-fold increase in proliferation, metabolic changes, and microenvironment remodeling in nevus-associated melanomas.

• Why it matters: Understanding the molecular and microenvironmental shifts during nevus to melanoma progression is crucial for early detection and targeted therapies, yet detailed spatial insights are limited.
• What they did: Using spatially resolved transcriptome-wide analysis and imaging mass cytometry, the study examined nevus-associated melanomas, revealing key gene expression changes and immune cell dynamics across 3 principal processes.
• The result: Findings show increased proliferation marked by CDK2, immune cell infiltration with M1-like macrophages and T cells, and microenvironmental remodeling, providing a comprehensive spatial atlas that informs melanoma initiation mechanisms.