LSM2 is associated with a poor prognosis and promotes cell proliferation, migration, and invasion in skin cutaneous melanoma

BACKGROUND: Skin cutaneous melanoma (SKCM) is an extremely malignant tumor that is associated with a poor prognosis. LSM2 has been found to be related to different types of tumors; however, its role in SKCM is poorly defined. We aimed to determine the value of LSM2 as a prognostic biomarker for SKCM. METHODS: The expression profile of LSM2 mRNA was compared between tumor and normal tissues in public databases, such as TCGA, GEO, and BioGPS. LSM2 protein expression was explored using immunohistochemistry (IHC) on a tissue microarray containing 44 SKCM tissues and 8 normal samples collected at our center. Kaplan-Meier analysis was performed to assess the prognostic value of LSM2 expression in patients with SKCM. SKCM cell lines with LSM2 knockdown were used to determine the effects of LSM2. Cell counting kit-8 (CCK8) and colony formation assays were conducted to assess cell proliferation, whereas wound healing and transwell assays were carried out to assess the migration and invasion abilities of SKCM cells. RESULTS: LSM2 was more highly expressed at the mRNA and protein levels in SKCM than that in normal skin. Moreover, elevated expression of LSM2 was associated with shorter survival time and early recurrence in patients with SKCM. The in vitro results revealed that the silencing of LSM2 in SKCM cells significantly inhibited cell proliferation, migration, and invasion. CONCLUSION: Overall, LSM2 contributes to malignant status and poor prognosis in patients with SKCM and may be identified as a novel prognostic biomarker and therapeutic target. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12920-023-01564-1.