Integrated single-cell and bulk transcriptomic analysis identifies a novel senescent fibroblast subtype associated with poor prognosis in acral melanoma

Abstract

Highlights • A high-resolution single-cell atlas of acral melanoma was constructed, revealing 10 major cell types and 16 melanoma subpopulations.• A novel senescent fibroblast subtype (sCAF_CDKN2A) was identified as a key driver of poor prognosis in acral melanoma.• SEMA6A, KIT, COL3A1, and VCAN were identified and validated as novel prognostic biomarkers for acral melanoma.• sCAF_CDKN2A forms an immunosuppressive network with Tregs via MIF and receives signals from exhausted CD8+ T cells via PPIA-BSG.