Arsenic trioxide induces apoptosis in uveal melanoma cells through the mitochondrial pathway.

Uveal melanoma, the most common primary intraocular malignancy in adults, is highly resistant to most chemotherapeutic drugs. Arsenic trioxide (ATO) is known to inhibit ocular melanoma cell growth. However, the effects of ATO on human uveal melanoma cells are poorly understood.

Increased expression of gelatinase (MMP-2 and MMP-9) in pterygia and pterygium fibroblasts with disease progression and activation of protein kinase C.

Purpose: To study the expression of matrix metalloprotease (MMP)-2 and MMP-9 mRNA and activities in various stages of surgically excised pterygium specimens and cultured pterygium fibroblasts and to study the effects of activation of protein kinase C (PKC) on the expression of these MMPs in pterygium fibroblasts.

Methods: MMP-2 and MMP-9 mRNA expression and activities in 15 pterygium tissues and cultured pterygium fibroblasts were measured by RT-PCR and zymography. Five normal conjunctiva specimens and fibroblasts were tested as the controls.