Open Access

Update on uveal melanoma: Translational research from biology to clinical practice (Review)

  • Authors:
    • Miguel A. Ortega
    • Oscar Fraile‑Martínez
    • Natalio García‑Honduvilla
    • Santiago Coca
    • Melchor Álvarez‑Mon
    • Julia Buján
    • Miguel A. Teus
  • View Affiliations

  • Published online on: October 22, 2020     https://doi.org/10.3892/ijo.2020.5140
  • Pages: 1262-1279
  • Copyright: © Ortega et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of Creative Commons Attribution License.

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Abstract

Uveal melanoma is the most common type of intraocular cancer with a low mean annual incidence of 5‑10 cases per million. Tumours are located in the choroid (90%), ciliary body (6%) or iris (4%) and of 85% are primary tumours. As in cutaneous melanoma, tumours arise in melanocytes; however, the characteristics of uveal melanoma differ, accounting for 3‑5% of melanocytic cancers. Among the numerous risk factors are age, sex, genetic and phenotypic predisposition, the work environment and dermatological conditions. Management is usually multidisciplinary, including several specialists such as ophthalmologists, oncologists and maxillofacial surgeons, who participate in the diagnosis, treatment and complex follow‑up of these patients, without excluding the management of the immense emotional burden. Clinically, uveal melanoma generates symptoms that depend as much on the affected ocular globe site as on the tumour size. The anatomopathological study of uveal melanoma has recently benefited from developments in molecular biology. In effect, disease classification or staging according to molecular profile is proving useful for the assessment of this type of tumour. Further, the improved knowledge of tumour biology is giving rise to a more targeted approach to diagnosis, prognosis and treatment development; for example, epigenetics driven by microRNAs as a target for disease control. In the present study, the main epidemiological, clinical, physiopathological and molecular features of this disease are reviewed, and the associations among all these factors are discussed.
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December-2020
Volume 57 Issue 6

Print ISSN: 1019-6439
Online ISSN:1791-2423

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Spandidos Publications style
Ortega MA, Fraile‑Martínez O, García‑Honduvilla N, Coca S, Álvarez‑Mon M, Buján J and Teus MA: Update on uveal melanoma: Translational research from biology to clinical practice (Review). Int J Oncol 57: 1262-1279, 2020
APA
Ortega, M.A., Fraile‑Martínez, O., García‑Honduvilla, N., Coca, S., Álvarez‑Mon, M., Buján, J., & Teus, M.A. (2020). Update on uveal melanoma: Translational research from biology to clinical practice (Review). International Journal of Oncology, 57, 1262-1279. https://doi.org/10.3892/ijo.2020.5140
MLA
Ortega, M. A., Fraile‑Martínez, O., García‑Honduvilla, N., Coca, S., Álvarez‑Mon, M., Buján, J., Teus, M. A."Update on uveal melanoma: Translational research from biology to clinical practice (Review)". International Journal of Oncology 57.6 (2020): 1262-1279.
Chicago
Ortega, M. A., Fraile‑Martínez, O., García‑Honduvilla, N., Coca, S., Álvarez‑Mon, M., Buján, J., Teus, M. A."Update on uveal melanoma: Translational research from biology to clinical practice (Review)". International Journal of Oncology 57, no. 6 (2020): 1262-1279. https://doi.org/10.3892/ijo.2020.5140