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 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 in UVM, we analyzed publicly available transcriptomic datasets using GEPIA2 and UALCAN, assessing 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 within the UVM tumor microenvironment and to investigate its association with specific functional cellular states.

RESULTS

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

CONCLUSION

These findings suggest that 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.