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Update on Metastatic Uveal Melanoma: Progress and Challenges

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Abstract

Uveal melanoma is a rare and biologically distinct type of melanoma arising from melanocytes of the uveal tract; it is associated with a poor prognosis due to the lack of effective systemic treatments. Recent advances in the pathogenesis of uveal melanoma offer an unprecedented opportunity for investigation of new compounds. The purpose of this paper was to analyse the existing evidence about the molecular pathology and immunobiology of advanced uveal melanoma and their implications for systemic targeted therapies and immunotherapy, as well as to discuss future treatment strategies based on data provided by clinical and translational research studies.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, IRCCS San Martino-IST Istituto Nazionale per la Ricerca sul Cancro, Largo Rosanna Benzi, 10, 16132, Genoa, Italy

    Francesco Spagnolo

  2. Department of Medical Oncology, IRCCS San Martino-IST Istituto Nazionale per la Ricerca sul Cancro, Genoa, Italy

    Virginia Picasso, Laura Spano, Enrica Tanda & Paola Queirolo

  3. University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy

    Clary Venzano

Authors
  1. Francesco Spagnolo
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  2. Virginia Picasso
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  3. Laura Spano
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  4. Enrica Tanda
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  5. Clary Venzano
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  6. Paola Queirolo
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Francesco Spagnolo.

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Conflict of interest

Francesco Spagnolo, Virginia Picasso, Laura Spano, Enrica Tanda, Clary Venzano and Paola Queirolo have no financial interest in any of the products, devices or drugs mentioned in this article. Francesco Spagnolo has received lecture fees from Bristol-Myers Squibb, Novartis and Roche; Virginia Picasso has received lecture fees from Bristol-Myers Squibb; Paola Queirolo has received lecture fees and served on advisory boards for Bristol-Myers Squibb, Novartis, Roche and MSD.

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No sources of funding were used in the preparation of this study.

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Spagnolo, F., Picasso, V., Spano, L. et al. Update on Metastatic Uveal Melanoma: Progress and Challenges. BioDrugs 30, 161–172 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40259-016-0167-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40259-016-0167-4

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