PURPOSE:To evaluate the value of the apoptosis-suppressing oncogene bcl-2 protein expression in the development and progression of uveal and conjunctival melanomas. METHODS:Using flow cytometry and immunofluorescence methods to detect the bcl-2 protein expression in 40 cases of uveal malignant melanomas (UMM), 5 cases of conjunctival nevi (CN) and 7 cases of conjunctival malignant melanomas (CMM). RESULTS :The expression content of bcl-2 protein in CMM was significantly higher than that in CN (P＜0.05);the bcl-2 protein positive expression percentages in CMM and UMM were 85.71% and 72.50% respectively. The expression content of bcl-2 protein in UMM was not related to pathological classfication, scleral invasion,ciliary body involvement,and tumor dimensions (P＞0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The over-expression of bcl-2 protein and apoptosis suppressing might be related to the pathogenesis of CMM and UMM;bcl-2 protein expression might be helpful in discriminating CN from CMM, but unavailable in evaluating the patholgical malignancy of UMM. （Chin J Ocul Fundus Dis,1997,13: 73-74 ）
Objective To observe the macular morphological changes of choroidal melanoma with coherence tomography (OCT) after plaque radiotherapy (PRT). Methods A total of 48 patients (48 eyes) with choroidal melanoma who underwent125I PRT were enrolled in this study. All the patients were examined documenting OCT to get the image of macula. The macula of all the patients was not involved. The median visual acuity was 0.4plusmn;0.2, which ranged from 0.02 to 1.0. There were 18 eyes (37.5%) with retinal detachment, 12 eyes (25.0%) with retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) changes, seven eyes (14.6%) with macular edema, epimacular membrane, detachment combined with edema, exudation and RPE changes, 11 eyes (22.9%) with normal macular structure. The median follow-up time was (10.4plusmn;5.9) months, which ranged from one to 24 months. The tumor control situation and visual acuity were observed in follow-up period. The same equipment and methods of OCT were used to return visit in follow-up period. The macular morphological changes at the final visit and its relationship with PRT and visual acuity were contrastively analyzed. Results All the patients had good control of tumor. The vision acuity improved in two eyes (4.2%), unchanged in 10 eyes (20.8%), and decreased in 36 eyes (75.0%). The differences of the visual acuity was statistically significant between before and after treatment (Z=-3.778,P＜0.05). There were 13 eyes (27.1%) with retinal detachment; nine eyes (18.8%) with RPE changes; 17 eyes (35.4%) with macular edema, detachment combined with edema, exudation and RPE changes; six eyes (12.5%) with proliferation, atrophy, detachment combined with edema, exudation and epimacular membrane;three eyes (6.3%) with normal macular structure. There were 15 patients (31.3%) with two or more abnormal macular morphology after PRT. Conclusions Retinal detachment, RPE changes, macular edema and exudation are common abnormal macular morphology after PRT. The incidence rate of abnormal macular morphology is increased. There are 31.3% patients with two or more abnormal macular morphology.
Objective To investigate the effects of adenovirus-mediated melanoma differentiation-associated gene-7 (mda-7)/IL-24 and/or adriamycin (ADM) on transplanted human hepatoma in nude mice and to explore a new way for hepatoma gene therapy combined with chemotherapy. Methods The recombinant adenovirus vector carrying Ad.mda-7 was constructed; Ad.mda-7 and/or ADM were injected into the tumor-bearing mice. Their effects on the growth of the tumor and the survival time of the mice were observed. The expressions of VEGF and TGF-β1 were detected by an immunohistochemistry method. Results Ad.mda-7 was constructed and expressed in vivo successfully. Compared with other three groups 〔control group (43.4±1.67) d, ADM group (64.2±4.14) d, Ad.mda-7 group (61.4±1.67) d〕, the mice treated with Ad.mda-7 combined with ADM had longer average survival time 〔(83.8±4.82) d, P＜0.01〕; the average size of tumor treated with Ad.mda-7 combined with ADM diminished significantly compared with that treated with ADM or Ad.mda-7 separately (P＜0.01). VEGF and TGF-β1 expressions of Ad.mda-7 group were (56.2±7.7)%, (35.2±4.5)%, respectively, and were lower than those in ADM group (VEGF: P＜0.05; TGF-β1: P＜0.01). VEGF expression of Ad.mda-7+ADM group was (37.3±5.0)%, and was significantly lower than that in other three groups (P＜0.01). TGF-β1 expression of Ad.mda-7+ADM group was (31.2±3.1)% and significantly lower than that in control group and ADM group (P＜0.01), however, there was no significant difference compared with Ad.mda-7 group (Pgt;0.05). Conclusion Ad.mda-7 combined with ADM has b antitumor potency and synergistic effects and suppresses the growth of human HCC xenograft in nude mice, possibly by inducing the apoptosis of hepatoma cell lines and suppressing tumor angiogenesis.
OBJECUIVE: To observe the therapeutic efficacy of gamma;-knife/lymphokine activated killing cells (LAK)in chorold malignant melanoma (CMM). METHODS:Five cases of CMM had keen treated by retrobulbar injection of LAK cells and gamma;-knife irradiation at multiple sites.Ophthalmologic,imageologic, fundus fluorescein angiographic and T lymphocyte subset examinations were done before and after treatment. Tile follow-up period of this series of cases was 6-24 months. RESUILS:Thc CMM of 4 in 5 treated cases became atrophic and withered up clinically after gamma;-kinfe/LAK therapy. Among the 4 cases,2 of them had been followed up for more than 2 years,and the other 2 for 20 and 14 months respectively. The tumor of the 5th patient wko was followed up for 6 months after treatment,reduced to 3/5 of the original size,and no blood flow was found within thee tumor mass under the clinical examination. CONCLUSION :The gamma;-knife/LAK therapy was effective in treating CMM in saving the affected eye from being enucleated. Chin J Ocul Fundus Dis,1997,13: 96- 98）
Objective To investigate the histopathological characteristics of choroidal melanoma. Methods The histopathological data from 64 patients with choroidal melanoma were analyzed retrospectively. The tumor size and the cytological types were observed and detected. The locations of the tumor were classified according to the involved part invaded by the anterior margine of the tumor, and the degrees of the development of the tumor were graded according to the extent of the outward infiltration of the tumor cells. Results In 64 patients with choroidal melanoma, There were large, medium, and small tumors in 25(39.1%), 31(48.4%), and 8(12.5%) respectively. The spindle cell type was found in 42 patients (65.6%) including spindle cell A and B type in 15(23.4%) and 27(42.3%) respectively; epithelioid and mixed cell type was found in 7(10.9%) and 10(15.6%) respectively; the other types were found in 5(7.8%). Twenty-five cases（39.1％）had no invasion with sclera, 22（34.4％）had but limited to sclera, 12（18.8％）penetrated through sclera and 5（7.8％）had intra-orbit infiltration. Conclusion The histopathological characteristics of choroidal melanoma are multiple, and spindle cell type is the most common one. The choroidal melanoma can easily invade the sclera. (Chin J Ocul Fundus Dis, 2006, 22: 161-165)
Objective To evaluate the role of the cell cycle related genes cyclinD1 and Bcl-2 protein expression in the pathogenesis and infilt ration of the uveal melanoma． Methods Using immunohis tochemistry to detect the cyclinD1 and bcl-2 protein expression in 96 cases of uveal melanoma． Results The expression content of bcl-2 was high in uveal melanoma, and there wasn't any relationship between bcl-2 cell positivity and tumor cell type and extrascleral extension． In contrast, cyclinD1 expression was higher in epithelial cell uveal melanoma than mix cell and spindle cell varieties． There was a positive correlation between cyclinD1 cell positivity and extrascleral extension． Conclusion The expression of bcl-2 protein is important for the survival of the uveal melanoma． CyclinD1 may serve as a sensitive index of its malignancy． (Chin J Ocul Fundus Dis, 2001,17:44-46)
Objective To evaluate the clinical and histopathological features of diffuse choroidal melanoma. Methods The clinical and histopathological data of 11 patients with diffuse choroidal melanoma were reviewed retrospectively. Those patients were referred to Tianjin Eye Hospital because of visual loss or ophthalmalgia (10 cases), or Coats disease with secondary glaucoma and atrophy bulbi (1 case). The clinical disgnosis included choroidal tumor or melanoma (8 cases), absolutestage glaucoma (2 cases) and atrop hy bulbi with Coats disease (1 case). Nine patients received enucleation, and 2 patients received enucleation combined with orbital exenteration. The cellular proliferation was assessed by Ki-67staining. Results All 11 tumors had grown flatly with a wide base ranged from 12 to 20 mm, and tumor thickness ranged from 2 to 4 mm. There were 9 cases of mixed cell type, 1 case of epithelioid cell type and 1 case of necrotic cell type. The tumors invaded into the sclera in 7 cases and orbital cavity in 3 cases. Secondary glaucoma was found in 7 cases. On average, 9% (7%13%) of tumor cells were Ki67 positive and most of them located at the tumor base. There were more Ki67 positive epithelioid tumor cells than Ki67 positive spindle-shaped cells. Conclusions Diffuse choroidal melanoma had a special growth pattern and is difficult to be recognized, sometimes could be misdiagnosed as glaucoma or other choroidal tumors. With its wide base, this tumor could easily invade the orbit and metastate, and its prognosis is very poor.
Objective To investigate the expression of pigment epitheliumderived factor (PEDF) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in choroidal melanoma. Methods The expression of VEGF and PEDF protein in fifty-eight cases of paraffinembeded choroidal melanoma samples was measured by immunohistochemistry, the expression of PEDF mRNA in thirtynine choroidal melanoma samples was assayed by in situ hybridization. Results PEDF protein was detected in 13/58 cases (22.4%) of choroidal melanoma, the positive rate in nonsclerainvasion group (12/38, 31.6%) was higher (Plt;0.05) than that in sclerainvasion group (1/20, 5%). VEGF protein was detected in 43/58 cases (64%) of choroidal melanoma, the positive rate in nonsclerainvasion group (25/38, 65.8%) was lower (Plt;0.05) than that in sclerainvasion group (18/20, 90%). The expression of PEDF mRNA was detected in 18/39(46.2) cases, the positive rate in nonsclerainvasion group was higher (Plt;0.05) than that in sclerainvasion group. Conclusions Imbalanced expression of VEGF and PEDF in choroidal melanoma may play a key role in the angiogenesis, tumor progression and metastasis.
ObjectiveTo detect the level of serum melanoma-inbibiting activity (MIA) in patients with uveal melanomas, and investigate the value of MIA in diagnosing and inspecting uveal melanomas.MethodsEnzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used to detect the concentrations of MIA in peripheral serum of 27 patients with uveal melanoma, 6 with melanocyte tumor, 7 with other ocular tumors and 16 healthy individuals, respectively.ResultsThe concentration of MIA in patients with uveal melanoma was significantly higher than that in the healthy ones (16 individuals) and the patients with adenoma of non pigmented ciliary epithelium (4 patients), retinoblastoma (2 patients), and retinal angioma 91 patient). The concnetration of MIA in patients with uveal melanoma without scleral infiltration or remote metastasis was obviously lower than that in the patients with scleral infiltration or remote metastasis, but didn′t differ much from which in the patients with melanocyte tumor. In the patients with uveal melanoma without infiltration or remote metastasis, there was no significant difference of MIA level between patients with spindle cell and mixed and epithelioid cell.ConclusionThe level of serum MIA may be an effective index in diagnosing uveal melanoma, which can monitor the metastasis of uveal melanoma.(Chin J Ocul Fundus Dis, 2005,21:153-155)
Objective To observe the therapeutic effect of plaque radiotherapy (PRT) on choroidal melanoma. Methods PRT was performed on 21 patients (21 eyes) with chroidal melanoma who had been examined by ophthalmoscopy, fundus fluorescein angiography (FFA), indocyanine green angiography (ICGA), and B-scan echography. The visual acuity was le;0.05 in 3 eyes, 0.06-0.2 in 4 eyes, and ge;0.3 in 14 eyes before the treatment. Choroidal melanoma, round or oval brown solid hunch, was located at the area around macula in 7 eyes, around the optic disc in 7 eyes, at or near the vascular arcade in 5 cases, and at the periphery in 2 eyes. The maximum length、width and thickness of tumor was 13 mm, 11.6 mm, and 9.59 mm. The isotope we used was125I, and the quantum of designed radiation was 100-120 Gy. Fourteen patients with choroidal melanoma at the macular area or around the optic disc underwent plaque radiotherapy associated with transpupillary thermotherapy (TTT). The average follow-up duration was 12 months with the longest duration of 3 years. The basis and thickness (height) of tumors were measured by B-scan echography. The aggrandizement of the tumor would be regarded if the height increased 15% or the basis boundary aggrandized 250mm. Results The visual acuity after the treatment decreased in 9 eyes, remained unchanged in 10, and increased in 2. The dimension of tumo increased in 6 eyes, remained unchanged in 12, and decreased in 3. The complication was vitreous hemorrhage in 2 eys, vascular occlusion in 1, branch retinal venous occlusion in 1, macular pucker in 1, retinal hemorrhage in 3, partial optic atrophy in 3, neovascular glaucoma in 1, and extraction of eye in 3. Conclusion The domestic plaque design is effective on choroidal melanoma, and is of a sort on the thick tumor and the tumor located at macula or beside the optic disc. (Chin J Ocul Fundus Dis, 2006, 22: 157-160)