Single-cell RNA sequencing reveals melanoma cell state-dependent heterogeneity of response to MAPK inhibitorsResearch in context
Su Yin Lim,
Yingxin Lin,
Jenny H. Lee,
Bernadette Pedersen,
Ashleigh Stewart,
Richard A. Scolyer,
Georgina V. Long,
Jean Y.H. Yang,
Helen Rizos
Affiliations
Su Yin Lim
Macquarie Medical School, Faculty of Medicine, Health and Human Sciences, Macquarie University, Australia; Melanoma Institute Australia, Australia; Corresponding author. Macquarie Medical School, Faculty of Medicine, Health and Human Sciences, Macquarie University, Australia.
Yingxin Lin
School of Mathematics and Statistics, The University of Sydney, Australia; Charles Perkins Centre, The University of Sydney, Australia
Jenny H. Lee
Macquarie Medical School, Faculty of Medicine, Health and Human Sciences, Macquarie University, Australia; Melanoma Institute Australia, Australia; Department of Neurosurgery, Chris O'Brien Lifehouse, Sydney, NSW, Australia
Bernadette Pedersen
Macquarie Medical School, Faculty of Medicine, Health and Human Sciences, Macquarie University, Australia; Melanoma Institute Australia, Australia
Ashleigh Stewart
Macquarie Medical School, Faculty of Medicine, Health and Human Sciences, Macquarie University, Australia; Melanoma Institute Australia, Australia
Richard A. Scolyer
Melanoma Institute Australia, Australia; Charles Perkins Centre, The University of Sydney, Australia; Tissue Pathology and Diagnostic Oncology, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital and NSW Health Pathology, Sydney, Australia; Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Australia
Georgina V. Long
Melanoma Institute Australia, Australia; Charles Perkins Centre, The University of Sydney, Australia; Royal North Shore and Mater Hospitals, Sydney, Australia; Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Australia
Jean Y.H. Yang
School of Mathematics and Statistics, The University of Sydney, Australia; Charles Perkins Centre, The University of Sydney, Australia
Helen Rizos
Macquarie Medical School, Faculty of Medicine, Health and Human Sciences, Macquarie University, Australia; Melanoma Institute Australia, Australia
Summary: Background: Melanoma is a heterogeneous cancer influenced by the plasticity of melanoma cells and their dynamic adaptations to microenvironmental cues. Melanoma cells transition between well-defined transcriptional cell states that impact treatment response and resistance. Methods: In this study, we applied single-cell RNA sequencing to interrogate the molecular features of immunotherapy-naive and immunotherapy-resistant melanoma tumours in response to ex vivo BRAF/MEK inhibitor treatment. Findings: We confirm the presence of four distinct melanoma cell states - melanocytic, transitory, neural-crest like and undifferentiated, and identify enrichment of neural crest-like and undifferentiated melanoma cells in immunotherapy-resistant tumours. Furthermore, we introduce an integrated computational approach to identify subsets of responding and nonresponding melanoma cells within the transcriptional cell states. Interpretation: Nonresponding melanoma cells are identified in all transcriptional cell states and are predisposed to BRAF/MEK inhibitor resistance due to pro-inflammatory IL6 and TNFɑ signalling. Our study provides a framework to study treatment response within distinct melanoma cell states and indicate that tumour-intrinsic pro-inflammatory signalling contributes to BRAF/MEK inhibitor resistance. Funding: This work was supported by Macquarie University, Melanoma Institute Australia, and the National Health and Medical Research Council of Australia (NHMRC; grant 2012860, 2028055).
