Aims-Overexpression of c-myc protein has independent prognostic significance in a variety of primary and metastatic cutaneous melanomas which suggests a possible role for this gene in melanomagenesis. We have therefore examined the importance of this oncogene in uveal melanoma and studied the coexpression of two other gene products, Bcl-2 and p53, which might contribute to its eVect. Methods-The percentage of cells positive for nuclear c-myc expression was estimated by flow cytometric analysis of nuclei extracted from paraYn blocks. The expression of Bcl-2 and p53 protein was assessed by immunohistochemistry. A total of 71 tumours were studied and the results compared with survival with a mean follow up period of 6 years. Results-c-myc was expressed in >50% of the cells by 70% of the tumours, and was independently associated with improved survival in a Cox multiple regression model. Although Bcl-2 was expressed by the majority of the cells in 67% tumours, it was without eVect on prognosis. None of the cases studied showed convincing positivity for p53. Analysis of coexpression showed that the best survival was seen in c-myc+/Bcl-2+ tumours and the worst in c-myc−/Bcl-2− tumours. Conclusion-The finding of improved rather than reduced survival in c-myc positive tumours is at variance with skin melanoma. There was no evidence to suggest that c-myc was modulated by upregulation of Bcl-2 or p53 inactivation/ mutation. Although Bcl-2 is unlikely to have any eVect on tumour growth or metastasis, it could contribute to the general lack of susceptibility to apoptosis in these tumours. (Br J Ophthalmol 1999;83:110-114) Although uveal melanoma is the commonest tumour of the eye, it represents less than 1% of cancer registrations and is a good example of a "rare" tumour. However, it accounts for 13% of deaths from melanoma. Death is invariably due to metastatic disease.

The in vivo dynamics of differentiated cells and interleukin (1L)-1 p, IL-8, granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) and interferon (1FN)q titres in afferent lymph were compared following orf virus reinfection and inactivated virus injection of previously infected sheep. The biphasic lymphoblast and cytokine response in the lymph to virus reinfection is consistent with a response initially to orf virus as recall antigen followed by a response to viral replication. CD4 T cells increased in output over other cell types in the lymph in both groups. A rapid immune/inflammatory response was detected in lymph plasma as an increase in cytokine titres within 24 h of virus reinfection or injection. Lymph cells producing IL-1 p and IL-8 appeared prior to those producing GM-CSF in both groups. In spite of variations in the concentration of individual cytokines in lymph following reinfection, both the size of the orf lesion and the time to resolve were similar in all cases.

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