Single-cell and machine learning integration reveals ferroptosis-driven immune landscapes for melanoma stratification

BackgroundFerroptosis, a regulated form of cell death, has emerged as a critical modulator of melanoma's tumor progression and immune evasion. However, its integration with the tumor immune microenvironment (TME) and clinical prognostication remains underexplored. This study aims to construct a...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Lei Wang, Xueying Jin, Yuchen Wu, Runing Qiu, Jianfang Wang
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2025-08-01
Series:Frontiers in Immunology
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fimmu.2025.1624691/full
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1850055525842026496
author Lei Wang
Lei Wang
Xueying Jin
Yuchen Wu
Runing Qiu
Jianfang Wang
author_facet Lei Wang
Lei Wang
Xueying Jin
Yuchen Wu
Runing Qiu
Jianfang Wang
author_sort Lei Wang
collection DOAJ
description BackgroundFerroptosis, a regulated form of cell death, has emerged as a critical modulator of melanoma's tumor progression and immune evasion. However, its integration with the tumor immune microenvironment (TME) and clinical prognostication remains underexplored. This study aims to construct a multi-omics framework combining ferroptosis-related signatures, immune infiltration patterns, and machine-learning approaches to stratify melanoma patients and guide therapeutic decision-making.MethodsWe developed a multi-omics framework integrating bulk transcriptomics (TCGA/GEO), single-cell RNA sequencing, and machine learning to decode melanoma's ferroptosis-immune axis. Ferroptosis-immune subtypes were identified through consensus clustering and immune profiling, while prognostic models were constructed via LASSO/stepwise Cox regression and machine learning optimization.ResultsThree ferroptosis-immune subtypes exhibiting distinct survival outcomes and immune phenotypes were identified. A 40-gene prognostic signature (externally validated) effectively stratified patient survival risk and predicted chemotherapy sensitivity. Single-cell analysis revealed elevated ferroptosis activity within an immunosuppressive microenvironment, specifically implicating POSTN–ITGB5 signaling in fibroblast-immune cell crosstalk. A clinically applicable nomogram integrating risk scores and clinical factors demonstrated robust predictive accuracy (AUC 0.829–0.845). Machine learning refined a 4-gene prognostic signature (CLN6, GMPR, AP1S2, ITGA6), with functional validation confirming the role of CLN6 in proliferation and migration.ConclusionThis study establishes a prognostic framework and therapeutic roadmap for precision immuno-oncology in melanoma, bridging multi-omics discovery with clinical translation.
format Article
id doaj-art-69b40ddc69624b0bb3210a7dcc15574e
institution DOAJ
issn 1664-3224
language English
publishDate 2025-08-01
publisher Frontiers Media S.A.
record_format Article
series Frontiers in Immunology
spelling doaj-art-69b40ddc69624b0bb3210a7dcc15574e2025-08-20T02:51:57ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Immunology1664-32242025-08-011610.3389/fimmu.2025.16246911624691Single-cell and machine learning integration reveals ferroptosis-driven immune landscapes for melanoma stratificationLei Wang0Lei Wang1Xueying Jin2Yuchen Wu3Runing Qiu4Jianfang Wang5Department of Oncology, Shaoxing People’s Hospital, The First Affiliated Hospital of Shaoxing University, Shaoxing, Zhejiang, ChinaLaboratory of Cancer Biology, Key Lab of Biotherapy in Zhejiang Province, Cancer Center of Zhejiang University, Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, ChinaDepartment of Oncology, Shaoxing People’s Hospital, The First Affiliated Hospital of Shaoxing University, Shaoxing, Zhejiang, ChinaLaboratory of Cancer Biology, Key Lab of Biotherapy in Zhejiang Province, Cancer Center of Zhejiang University, Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, ChinaLaboratory of Cancer Biology, Key Lab of Biotherapy in Zhejiang Province, Cancer Center of Zhejiang University, Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, ChinaDepartment of Oncology, Shaoxing People’s Hospital, The First Affiliated Hospital of Shaoxing University, Shaoxing, Zhejiang, ChinaBackgroundFerroptosis, a regulated form of cell death, has emerged as a critical modulator of melanoma's tumor progression and immune evasion. However, its integration with the tumor immune microenvironment (TME) and clinical prognostication remains underexplored. This study aims to construct a multi-omics framework combining ferroptosis-related signatures, immune infiltration patterns, and machine-learning approaches to stratify melanoma patients and guide therapeutic decision-making.MethodsWe developed a multi-omics framework integrating bulk transcriptomics (TCGA/GEO), single-cell RNA sequencing, and machine learning to decode melanoma's ferroptosis-immune axis. Ferroptosis-immune subtypes were identified through consensus clustering and immune profiling, while prognostic models were constructed via LASSO/stepwise Cox regression and machine learning optimization.ResultsThree ferroptosis-immune subtypes exhibiting distinct survival outcomes and immune phenotypes were identified. A 40-gene prognostic signature (externally validated) effectively stratified patient survival risk and predicted chemotherapy sensitivity. Single-cell analysis revealed elevated ferroptosis activity within an immunosuppressive microenvironment, specifically implicating POSTN–ITGB5 signaling in fibroblast-immune cell crosstalk. A clinically applicable nomogram integrating risk scores and clinical factors demonstrated robust predictive accuracy (AUC 0.829–0.845). Machine learning refined a 4-gene prognostic signature (CLN6, GMPR, AP1S2, ITGA6), with functional validation confirming the role of CLN6 in proliferation and migration.ConclusionThis study establishes a prognostic framework and therapeutic roadmap for precision immuno-oncology in melanoma, bridging multi-omics discovery with clinical translation.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fimmu.2025.1624691/fullferroptosismelanomaimmune microenvironmentsingle-cell RNA sequencingmachine learning
spellingShingle Lei Wang
Lei Wang
Xueying Jin
Yuchen Wu
Runing Qiu
Jianfang Wang
Single-cell and machine learning integration reveals ferroptosis-driven immune landscapes for melanoma stratification
Frontiers in Immunology
ferroptosis
melanoma
immune microenvironment
single-cell RNA sequencing
machine learning
title Single-cell and machine learning integration reveals ferroptosis-driven immune landscapes for melanoma stratification
title_full Single-cell and machine learning integration reveals ferroptosis-driven immune landscapes for melanoma stratification
title_fullStr Single-cell and machine learning integration reveals ferroptosis-driven immune landscapes for melanoma stratification
title_full_unstemmed Single-cell and machine learning integration reveals ferroptosis-driven immune landscapes for melanoma stratification
title_short Single-cell and machine learning integration reveals ferroptosis-driven immune landscapes for melanoma stratification
title_sort single cell and machine learning integration reveals ferroptosis driven immune landscapes for melanoma stratification
topic ferroptosis
melanoma
immune microenvironment
single-cell RNA sequencing
machine learning
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fimmu.2025.1624691/full
work_keys_str_mv AT leiwang singlecellandmachinelearningintegrationrevealsferroptosisdrivenimmunelandscapesformelanomastratification
AT leiwang singlecellandmachinelearningintegrationrevealsferroptosisdrivenimmunelandscapesformelanomastratification
AT xueyingjin singlecellandmachinelearningintegrationrevealsferroptosisdrivenimmunelandscapesformelanomastratification
AT yuchenwu singlecellandmachinelearningintegrationrevealsferroptosisdrivenimmunelandscapesformelanomastratification
AT runingqiu singlecellandmachinelearningintegrationrevealsferroptosisdrivenimmunelandscapesformelanomastratification
AT jianfangwang singlecellandmachinelearningintegrationrevealsferroptosisdrivenimmunelandscapesformelanomastratification