[HTML][HTML] Single-cell analysis reveals new evolutionary complexity in uveal melanoma

MA Durante, DA Rodriguez, S Kurtenbach… - Nature …, 2020 - nature.com
MA Durante, DA Rodriguez, S Kurtenbach, JN Kuznetsov, MI Sanchez, CL Decatur
Nature communications, 2020nature.com
Uveal melanoma (UM) is a highly metastatic cancer that, in contrast to cutaneous
melanoma, is largely unresponsive to checkpoint immunotherapy. Here, we interrogate the
tumor microenvironment at single-cell resolution using scRNA-seq of 59,915 tumor and non-
neoplastic cells from 8 primary and 3 metastatic samples. Tumor cells reveal novel
subclonal genomic complexity and transcriptional states. Tumor-infiltrating immune cells
comprise a previously unrecognized diversity of cell types, including CD8+ T cells …
Abstract
Uveal melanoma (UM) is a highly metastatic cancer that, in contrast to cutaneous melanoma, is largely unresponsive to checkpoint immunotherapy. Here, we interrogate the tumor microenvironment at single-cell resolution using scRNA-seq of 59,915 tumor and non-neoplastic cells from 8 primary and 3 metastatic samples. Tumor cells reveal novel subclonal genomic complexity and transcriptional states. Tumor-infiltrating immune cells comprise a previously unrecognized diversity of cell types, including CD8+ T cells predominantly expressing the checkpoint marker LAG3, rather than PD1 or CTLA4. V(D)J analysis shows clonally expanded T cells, indicating that they are capable of mounting an immune response. An indolent liver metastasis from a class 1B UM is infiltrated with clonally expanded plasma cells, indicative of antibody-mediated immunity. This complex ecosystem of tumor and immune cells provides new insights into UM biology, and LAG3 is identified as a potential candidate for immune checkpoint blockade in patients with high risk UM.
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