Integrated analysis of mutational burden, transcriptome, and TCR repertoire in melanoma evolution

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Project acronym: MEL-TREC

Project number: 581-UNIOS-83 

Principal investigator: izv. prof. dr. sc. Stana Tokić
Funding source: European Union – NextGeneration EU
Project duration: 1 October 2025. to 30 September 2029.
Budget: 118.950,00 EUR

Project summary:

Melanoma is the most aggressive form of skin cancer, with a high mortality rate in advanced stages due to early metastasis and resistance to therapy. Although it accounts for less than 1% of all skin cancers, it is responsible for almost 90% of skin cancer-related deaths. Melanoma develops through the accumulation of mutations in melanocytes, most often in genes of the MAPK and PI3K pathways, telomerase, and cell cycle regulators. Early stages of the disease have a favourable prognosis, but with dissemination to the lymph nodes, the outcome deteriorates significantly. The tumour microenvironment, particularly tumour-infiltrating T lymphocytes (TILs), are of crucial importance for prognosis and therapeutic response, but their functional characteristics in early-stage melanoma remain unexplored. The proposed research includes an integrated analysis of mutational burden, transcriptome, and TCR repertoire in tissue sections of primary melanoma, benign or dysplastic naevi, sun-exposed skin, and lymph node metastases from the same subjects. The use of NGS technology will enable the identification of early molecular triggers, biomarkers of progression, and antitumour responses, with the aim of improving early diagnosis, risk stratification, and the development of personalised immunotherapy.