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Genetic mutation that causes the most common form of eye cancer discovered

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An international, multicentre study has revealed the discovery of a novel oncogene that is associated with uveal melanoma, the most common form of eye cancer. Researchers have isolated an oncogene called GNA11 and have found that it is present in more than 40 per cent of tumour samples taken from patients with uveal melanoma. The findings were published early online 17 November 2010 in the New England Journal of Medicine and appear in the 2 December 2010 print issue.

"These findings are significant because we now have a much better understanding of the precise mechanism of this disease, which may yield targets and treatments in the future," said Boris C. Bastian, MD, PhD, Chair of the Department of Pathology at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center and senior author of the study. "Currently, once this type of melanoma has spread beyond the eye, therapeutic options are extremely limited," added Dr Bastian.

The eye is the second most common site in the body for melanomas, after the skin. There are about 1,500 people diagnosed with melanoma of the eye in the US each year. Most frequently, melanomas of the eye occur in the part of the eye known as the uveal tract – the vascular layer that includes the iris (the pigmented cells surrounding the pupil), the ciliary body (the ring-shaped muscle that changes the size of the pupil and the shape of the lens when the eye focuses), and the choroid (the pigmented layer under the retina). Most patients with melanoma of the eye experience no symptoms until the tumour has become large enough to cause vision problems. In this study, DNA was extracted from tumour samples of patients and genetic sequencing was performed. To validate this new oncogene, immunocompromised mice were injected with cells engineered to harbour the mutated genes and monitored for the formation of tumours.

Previous studies from this group have revealed another oncogene associated with uveal melanoma, called GNAQ. Prior to the discovery of GNAQ and GNA11, genetic mutations responsible for uveal melanoma were completely unknown. Based on this latest research and recent studies, 83 per cent of uveal melanomas are now known to have an active mutation in the GNAQ or GNA11 oncogenes.

In addition, said Dr Bastian, "since the large majority of uveal melanomas harbor mutations in these two oncogenes, this suggests that the activation of the Gq/11 pathway is the main route to the development of uveal melanoma and identifies a brand new target for therapeutic intervention."

(Source: Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center: New England Journal of Medicine)


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Dates

Posted On: 23 November, 2010
Modified On: 15 January, 2014

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