scRNA-seq of immune cells during targeted therapy-induced tumor regression and targeted therapy tolerant residual melanoma

CD45⁺ tumor-infiltrating immune cells were isolated from immunocompetent melanoma models treated with BRAF/MEK inhibitors and analyzed by scRNA-seq using the 10x Genomics Chromium platform. Comparative single-cell transcriptomic analysis revealed dynamic remodeling of the tumor immune microenvironment during treatment, including distinct macrophage and NK cell populations associated with therapeutic response and tolerance.

Macrophage–NK cell crosstalk and cytokine signaling pathways were found to orchestrate immune activation during tumor regression, whereas immunosuppressive macrophage subsets and reduced NK effector signatures characterized the tolerant state. This dataset provides a comprehensive immune cell–level resource to investigate innate immune dynamics and intercellular communication mechanisms underlying targeted therapy efficacy and resistance in melanoma.