Elevated Stanniocalcin-1 Expression in Uveal Melanoma Predicts Poor Patient Prognosis.

Abstract

Background/aim: Uveal melanoma (UVM) is the most prevalent primary intraocular malignancy, accounting for 3-5% of all melanomas. Despite its rarity, particularly in Japan (~2 cases per 100,000 individuals annually), UVM exhibits highly aggressive behavior, with nearly 50% of patients developing distant metastases. Once metastasized, the prognosis remains dismal, with a median survival of only 4-5 months. Identifying prognostic biomarkers and potential therapeutic targets is imperative to improve clinical outcomes. Stanniocalcin-1 (STC-1) is a glycoprotein hormone implicated in calcium and phosphate homeostasis. Recent studies have linked STC-1 overexpression to tumor progression, poor prognosis, and increased metastatic potential in various malignancies. However, the prognostic significance and mechanistic role of STC-1 in UVM remain unexplored.

Materials and methods: To elucidate the clinical relevance of STC-1 in UVM, we analyzed publicly available transcriptomic datasets using GEPIA2 and UALCAN, assessing STC-1 mRNA expression across disease stages and its correlation with patient survival. In parallel, single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) datasets were utilized to identify the cellular sources of STC-1 within the UVM tumor microenvironment and to investigate its association with specific functional cellular states.

Results: STC-1 expression was significantly up-regulated in stage IV UVM tumors compared to stage III (n=4 and 36, respectively). Moreover, elevated STC-1 expression was inversely correlated with overall survival, suggesting its potential role in disease progression. scRNA-seq analysis revealed that STC-1 is expressed by both tumor cells and fibroblasts, indicating a possible cooperative mechanism that may drive tumor progression.

Conclusion: These findings suggest that STC-1 serves as a potential prognostic biomarker in UVM, providing novel insights into its role in tumor biology. Further investigation is warranted to explore its therapeutic implications and mechanistic contributions to UVM progression.