ARVO ( Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology) was hosted in Denver, Colorado May 1-4, and virtually May 11-12. ACIS was in attendance virtually. Below is a list of the abstracts and posters presented. There is a ton of exciting research going on regarding Uveal Melanoma, please check out what is on the horizon. I have posted below the titles and and. recap of the abstracts and posters.
The clinical applicability of IHC staining for BAP1 for prognostication of uveal melanoma : Jen Kiilgaard, Carsten Farber, Mette Bagger, Steffen Heegaard, David Scheie, Rigshospitalet; Kobenhavns Universtet.
Conclusions: BAP1 IHC yields a high outcome when “true” histology is available, but not very stable in cytological preparations.
Potential of aqueous humor as a liquid biopsy for uveal melanoma : Deborah Im, Chen-Ching Peng, Liya Xu, Mary Kim, Dejerianne Ostrow, Venkata Yellapantula, Moiz Bootwalla, Jaclyn Biegel, Xiaowu Gai, Peter Kuhn, James Hicks, Jesse Berry, University of Southern California Keck School of Medicine; Children’s Hospital of Los Angeles.
Conclusions: AH is a source of cfDNA in UM eyes, with a higher yield of nucleic acids post-radiation. This is the first-time that UM SCNAs and mutations were identified in cfDNA isolated from the AH. this suggests that AH can serve as a liquid biopsy for UM.
In vivo intraocular biomarkers in uveal melanoma: an aqueous humor proteomic study : Giulia Midena, Raffaele Parrozzani, Marisa Bruno, Graziano Esposito, Alessandra Micera, Edoardo Midena; Fondazione Bietti, Roma; Department of Ophthalmology, University of Padova, Padova.
Conclusions: Selected biomarkers may be identified in the AH of eyes affected by UM. These findings not only confirm in vivo the possibilities offered by AH analysis in UM eyes, but suggest that AH evaluation may represent the liquid biopsy approach in UM diagnosis, prognosis, and follow-up.
Clinical Phenotype and Genetics of Familial Uveal Melanoma: Tara Salmans, Aliya Ansari, Lindsey Byrne, Frederick Davidorf, Colleen Cebulla, Mohamed Abdel-Rahman; The Ohio State University.
Conclusions: BAP1 is the most important cancer predisposition gene in FUM, detected in 19-23% of families. Germline pathogenic variants in other established or possible cancer predisposition genes are detected in 21% of FUM. Further assessment of the association of other candidate genes with predisposition to FUM and study of other candidate genes are warranted.
Exploring The Therapeutic Potential of Ergolide as an Anti-Cancer Agent for Uveal Melanoma: Valentina Tonelotto, Husvinee Sundaramurthi, Simone Marcone, Lasse Jensen, Giricz Zoltan, Breandan Kenneidy; University College Dublin, Xenopat S.L., The University of Dublin Trinity College, BioReperia AB, Pharmahungary Group
Conclusions: Our findings suggest that Ergolide is capable of preventing UM/MUM cell survival in vitro; and reduces OMM2.5 primary xenograft fluorescence in vivo that needs to be further explored. Future studies with investigate 1) the mechanism of action of Ergolide in vitro through proteome profiling, and 2) changes to the molecular properties of extracellular vesicles isolated from OMM2.5 cells treated with Ergolide.
Presence of Micrometastases of Uveal Melanoma at Autopsy after Non-Melanoma-Related Death: Viktor Gill, Shiva Sabazade, Emelie Norman, Gustav Stalhammar; Vastmanlands sjukhus Vasteras, Karolinska Institutet Instituionen for neurovetenskap, Sankt Eriks Ogonsjukhus; Karolinska Institutet.
Conclusions: MM could be identified in most patients with primary uveal melanoma, regardless of concurrent . This seems to confirm that uveal melanoma can seed MM early.
Systemic Review and Meta-Analysis for Long-Term Metastasis-free Survival in Untreated Uveal Melanoma: Gustav Stalhammar, Viktor Gill; Karolinska Institutet, St. Erik Eye Hospital, Vastmanland Hospital Vasteras.
Conclusions: Patients that do not undergo treatment for their primary uveal melanoma are exceedingly rare in the literature. Of the published cases, eight or nine out of ten have eventually developed metastases. This indicates that primary tumor treatment may prevent metastases.
The Obesity Paradox in Uveal Melanoma: Body Mass Index <30 is associated with lower metastatic risk: Shiva Sabazade, Adrianna Opalko, Viktor Gill, Christina Herrspiegel, Gustav Stalhammar; Karolinska Institutet.
Conclusions: Obesity is associated with lower metastatic risk in uveal melanoma, independent of tumor size and diabetes.
FOXD1 is involved in uveal melanocyte development and associated with high-risk uveal melanoma: Quincy Bosch, Josephine Nguyen, Tom Brands, Thierry van den Bosch, Robert Verdijk, Dion Paridaens, Nicole Naus, Annalies de Klein, Emine Kilic, Erwin Brosens; Erasmus Universitet Rotterdam.
Conclusions: BAP1-mutant UMs have larger nucleoli and fewer NORs than BAP1-wildtype UMs. This finding supports previous research regarding the prognostic relevance of nucleolar size and number of NORs in Class 1 and Class 2 UMs but suggests that BAP1 alteration may account for these observations. With use of advanced whole slide image analytical techniques, further investigation of this phenomenon should be pursued to determine if standard H&E stained slides can be used to predict GEP Class of UM.
These are just a few to illustrate the very important and exciting research that is ongoing in the realm of Uveal Melanoma. To find a full list click the link below.