Choroidal melanoma

Abstract

Choroidal melanoma is the most common primary intra-ocular malignant tumor and second most common site of ten malignant melanoma sites in the body. Current diagnosis of choroidal melanoma is based on both the clinical experience of the specialist and modern diagnostic techniques such as indirect ophthalmoscopy, A- and B-ultrasonography scans, fundus fluorescein angiography, and transillumination. Invasive studies such as fine needle aspiration cytology can have significant morbidity and should only be considered if therapeutic intervention is indicated and diagnosis cannot be established by any other means. Several modes of treatment are available for choroidal melanoma. Multiple factors are taken into account when deciding one approach over other approaches, such as visual acuity of the affected eye, visual acuity of the contralateral eye, tumor size, location, ocular structures involved and presence of metastases. A comprehensive review of literature available in books and indexed journals was done. This article discusses in detail epidemiology, diagnosis, current available treatment options, and prognosis and survival of choroidal melanoma.

Second Primary Neoplasms in Patients With Uveal Melanoma: A SEER Database Analysis

“…23 However, these 2 tumors show remarkable differences in their metastatic spread and therapeutic response. 38,39 The same applies to their associated genetic findings: more than 80% of uveal melanomas carry mutations in GNA11 or GNAQ; in cutaneous melanoma, oncogenic mutations in BRAF and NRAS seem to be primarily involved. 15,40,41 However, both GNAQ/GNA11 and BRAF/NRAS activate a common pathway, the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK).…”

Cepharanthine exerts antitumor activity on choroidal melanoma by reactive oxygen species production and c-Jun N-terminal kinase activation

“…Currently, there are several treatment protocols for primary choroidal melanoma, including surgery, radiation therapy, thermotherapy and external beam proton therapy (4-7). The 5-year relative survival rate of choroidal melanoma is ~80% when the tumors are confined to the eyes (3,8). However, patients with choroidal melanoma have a high risk of developing metastasis (typically to the liver), which is usually fatal with a median survival time of 6-9 months subsequent to the detection of liver metastasis (3,8).…”

“…Tumors were allowed to grow for 10 days prior to treatment. The mice were then divided into 4 groups, each of 6 mice with similar mean tumor volumes (between 100 and 150 mm 3 ).…”

“…When solid tumors grew to 100-150 mm 3 , mice were treated with vehicle control or CEP (25 mg/kg) for 4 weeks (5 times/week) via peritumoral injection. The tumors were measured every 3 days and the relative tumor volumes were calculated.…”

“…The 5-year relative survival rate of choroidal melanoma is ~80% when the tumors are confined to the eyes (3,8). However, patients with choroidal melanoma have a high risk of developing metastasis (typically to the liver), which is usually fatal with a median survival time of 6-9 months subsequent to the detection of liver metastasis (3,8). Therefore, development of novel effective therapies for choroidal melanoma is required urgently.…”