Immunobiology of Uveal Melanoma

Human Uveal Melanoma                     Liver Metastases                Liver Metastases (microscopic)

Significance


Uveal Melanoma is the most common and malignant ocular tumor in adults. The 5-year survival time for uveal melanoma patients has not improved in over 30 yr.

Ongoing Studies

 

  1. What is the basis for increased liver metastases of intraocular melanomas in aged versus young mice?
  2. What are the mechanisms invoked by NKT cells that disable NK cell-mediated cytolytic function in the liver and exacerbate metastasis of intraocular melanomas?
  3. What role do tumor-associated neutrophils (TAN) play in the development of liver metastases arising from intraocular melanomas?

Animal Models and Research Tools

 

  1. NOD/SCID model of human uveal melanoma.
  2. Panel of 10 human uveal melanoma cell lines and 3 liver metastases cell lines including OCM-3-GFP human uveal melanoma cell line that expresses green fluorescent protein.
  3. siRNA for inhibiting CXCR4 chemokine receptor expression is used for “proof of principle” studies on the role of chemokine receptors in the formation of liver metastases.