Prognostic value of key genes of the JAK-STAT signaling pathway in patients with cutaneous melanoma

The Janus kinase-signal transducer and activator of transcription (JAK-STAT) signaling pathway is involved in cell immunity, division and death, as well as in tumor formation. The expression of key genes in the JAK-STAT signaling pathway in different types of cancer serves different roles. However, few reports are available on the prognostic value of the genes of the JAK-STAT signaling pathway in skin cutaneous melanoma (SKCM). The potential prognostic value of gene expression in the JAK-STAT signaling pathway in patients with SKCM was analyzed in the present study using data obtained from The Cancer Genome Atlas. To predict the potential functions and mechanisms of these genes in SKCM, gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA) and bioinformatics analysis were performed. A nomogram model including gene expression level and high risk factors was used to predict the risk level of prognostic. High expression levels of STAT1, STAT3, STAT4 and STAT5B, and low expression levels of STAT6 were associated with favorable prognosis [adjusted P<0.001; hazard ratio (HR), 0.595; 95% confidence interval (CI), 0.455-0.778; adjusted P=0.018; HR, 0.725; 95% CI, 0.555-0.947; adjusted P<0.001; HR, 0.590; 95% CI, 0.450-0.773; adjusted P=0.007; HR, 0.690; 95% CI, 0.526-0.940; and adjusted P=0.026; HR, 0.737, 95% CI, 0.563-0.964, respectively]. GSEA results demonstrated that these genes were involved in cell differentiation, invasion, adhesion, migration, cycle, colony formation and mitogen-activated protein kinase signaling. The combination of genes with favorable prognosis had a better effect on the overall survival (univariate survival analysis, P<0.05). The results of the present study suggest that STAT1, STAT3, STAT4, STAT5B and STAT6 gene expression may be used as a potential prognostic biomarker of SKCM, and the combined outcomes may exhibit a stronger interaction and higher survival time for SKCM.