Prognostic value of apoptosis inducing factor in uveal melanoma.

In malignant tumors including uveal melanoma there is a continuous effort in search for additional and relevant factors with predictive value and possible therapeutic indications. In the present work we evaluated the 5-year mortality in a group of patients with surgically treated uveal melanoma and its relation to selected demographic, clinical and histopathological parameters, including the expression of apoptosis inducing factor (AIF) in the neoplastic tissue.We analyzed retrospectively the clinical data of patients with uveal melanoma treated surgically (enucleation, endoresection, exenteration) in the period from 2001 to 2007 (n=54).

[Selected prognostic factors of malignant uveal melanoma].

Malignant uveal melanoma is the most common intraocular tumor in adults. Despite very good local treatment results, patients' survival has not improved in the last decades. The main cause of death is metastatic spread, which occurs with a variable time delay after tumor discovery in 50% of patients.