Enhancing Prognostication in Uveal Melanoma
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Enhancing Prognostication in Uveal Melanoma
IRAS ID
187211
Contact name
Sarah Coupland
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Liverpool
Duration of Study in the UK
3 years, 0 months, 1 days
Research summary
In about fifty percent of patients with an eye cancer known as uveal melanoma, the cancer will eventually spread to the liver and this is usually fatal. Patients are classified as being at a high or low risk of their cancer spreading to a distant site in the body (metastatic risk), based on characteristics of the tumour in the eye. For the majority of patients the predicted metastatic risk stratification is correct, however, in a small subset of patients classified as having a low metastatic risk, the cancer spreads and is fatal. Recently, several studies have shown that in uveal melanoma, changes, known as mutations, occur in genes, which may influence cancer growth and the likelihood of metastatic spread. By understanding the prevalence and patterns of these alterations in patients with uveal melanoma we will be able to more accurately stratify them according to metastatic risk, as well as identify patients who could benefit from particular drugs should they develop metastatic disease. The aim of this study therefore is to develop methodologies to further enhance prognostication for patients with uveal melanoma.
REC name
South Central - Hampshire B Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
15/SC/0611
Date of REC Opinion
3 Oct 2015
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion