Regulation of VEGF-A in uveal melanoma.

Purpose: Blood vessels are important constituents of intraocular uveal melanoma (UM), but whether angiogenesis is regulated by environmental factors such as ischemia or by genetic mechanisms is not known. This study was undertaken to examine the regulation of the proangiogenic factor vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF-A).

Methods: Cell lines and primary tumors were tested for expression of VEGF-A, under normoxic and hypoxic conditions, using quantitative PCR, ELISA, WST-1 viability, and in-cell Western experiments.

Intravascular presence of tumor cells as prognostic parameter in uveal melanoma: a 35-year survey.

Purpose: Invasion of tumor cells into blood vessels is essential for metastasis of uveal melanoma. The occurrence of ingrowth of tumor cells in blood vessels in uveal melanoma was analyzed, and this parameter was compared with the survival of the patients.

Methods: Between 1972 and 2007, 643 eyes primarily enucleated for uveal melanoma were evaluated histopathologically.

Angiogenic profile of uveal melanoma.

Uveal melanoma develops in one of the most capillary-rich tissues of the body and is disseminated hematogenously. Knowledge of the nature and the spatiotemporal expression of angiogenic factors in uveal melanoma is essential to the development of new treatment strategies, especially with regard to improving survival. In this study, we measured the angiogenic potential of several angiogenic factors in different uveal melanoma cell lines, in an in vivo model, and in primary tumor material from patients with melanoma.

Whole-body bioluminescent imaging of human uveal melanoma in a new mouse model of local tumor growth and metastasis.

Purpose: Human uveal melanoma develops in one of the most capillary-rich tissues of the body and has a pure hematogenous dissemination. Radiodiagnostic examinations, such as ultrasonic diagnostic resonance imaging and chest radiographs plus liver enzyme studies in blood, are methods used to detect liver and other distant metastases in patients. Nevertheless, the mortality rate is high, because of the frequent occurrence of metastases and the lack of systemic therapy.

Prognostic value of S-100-beta serum concentration in patients with uveal melanoma.

Background: In cutaneous melanoma, the S-100-beta serum level is recognized as a marker of metastatic disease.

Objectives: To determine whether S-100-beta is present in the serum of patients with uveal melanoma and to test whether the serum concentration of S-100-beta is related to known clinical and histopathological prognostic factors in these patients.

Methods: The S-100-beta concentration was measured in serum samples collected from 64 patients with uveal melanoma before enucleation and from 58 healthy control subjects.