SKA3 overexpression predicts poor outcomes in skin cutaneous melanoma patients

•SKA3 is abnormal expressed in skin cutaneous melanoma.•The expression of SKA3 was significantly associated with survival rate.•PPI network and functional enrichment analysis of SKA3 was performed.•Overexpression of SKA3 was associated with the tumor microenvironment of SKCM.•SKA3 knockdown would inhibit the proliferation, invasion and metastasis of tumor cells. Spindle and Kinetochore Associated Complex Subunit 3 (SKA3) is a part of the SKA complex, which plays a key role in cell mitosis. Studies have shown that SKA3 was associated with cancer progression. However, its role in skin cutaneous melanoma (SKCM) remains unclear. Here, we investigated the expression level and prognostic value of SKA3 in SKCM. Based on public databases, univariate and multivariate Cox regression analyses were used to investigate the different expression of SKA3 between SKCM and normal tissues. Then, the relationship between SKA3 expression level and prognosis was assessed. PPI network and functional enrichment analysis were performed. ESTIMATE and CIBERSORT were expected to evaluate the SKA3 expression and immune status. CCK8, wound healing, transwell assays and tumor xenograft trial were performed to detect the SKA3 function in cell viability, migration and invasion of the cell lines. The SKA3 was highly expressed in SKCM tissues. SKA3 overexpression was associated with poor survival and immune status. SKA3 knockdown inhibited cell viability, migration and invasion of SKCM cells. SKA3 is involved in the progression of SKCM and may serve as a new prognostic biomarker and therapeutic target.