Update on Ophthalmic Oncology 2014: Retinoblastoma and Uveal Melanoma

Association of MTHFR 677C > T, 1298A > C and MTR 2756A > G Polymorphisms with Susceptibility to Childhood Retinoblastoma: A Systematic Review and Met-Analysis

BackgroundRecently, epidemiological studies investigating the association of MTHFR 677 C > T, 1298 A > C and MTR 2756 A > G polymorphism with retinoblastoma susceptibility reported controversial results. Methods: Data were collected from several electronic databases such as PubMed, EMBASE, and Google Scholar databases, with the last search up to December 05, 2019. Results: A total of eleven case-control studies including four studies with 324 cases and 490 controls on MTHFR 677 C > T, four studies with 324 cases and 490 controls on MTHFR 1298 A > C, and three studies with 283 cases and 485 controls on MTR 2756 A > G were selected. There was a significant association between MTHFR 677 C > T and MTR 2756 A > G polymorphisms and an increased risk of retinoblastoma. However, MTHFR 1298 A > C polymorphism was not significantly associated with risk of retinoblastoma. Conclusion: This meta-analysis demonstrated that MTHFR 677 C > T and MTR 2756 A > G polymorphisms might play important roles in the development of retinoblastoma. No association with MTHFR 1298 A > C polymorphism was observed.

Anticancer activity of ursolic acid on retinoblastoma cells determined by bioinformatics analysis and validation

Background

This article aims to explore whether ursolic acid (UA) inhibits the progression of retinoblastoma (Rb) by regulating stearoyl-CoA desaturase (SCD).

Methods

The Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database was used to filter the chip, then the GEO2R software was used to analyze the microarray data (GSE97508, GSE24673, and GSE110811). Gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA) was used to analyze the relationship between the expression level of SCD and the proliferation, migration, invasion, and inflammation in Rb patients. SO-RB50 and Y79 cell proliferation, migration, and invasion were assessed by the CCK-8 assay, the colony formation assay, the Transwell assay, and the wound scratch test. The protein expression levels of SCD were measured by western blot. The mRNA expression levels of IL-8, IL-6, CXCL1, and CCL2 were measured by RT-qPCR. The protein expression levels of IL-8 and IL-6 were measured by ELISA. A xenograft nude mouse model was established to evaluate the effect of UA on tumor growth in male BALB/c mice.

Results

The expression levels of SCD were related to cell proliferation, migration, invasion, and inflammation. UA inhibited SO-RB50 and Y79 cell proliferation, migration, and invasion. At the same time, UA suppressed tumor growth in the xenograft nude mouse model. Overexpression of SCD promoted SO-RB50 and Y79 cell proliferation, migration, invasion, and inflammation, while SCD knockout inhibited SO-RB50 and Y79 cell proliferation, migration, invasion, and inflammation. Importantly, UA inhibited the proliferation, migration, and invasion of Rb cells through SCD inhibition.

Conclusions

UA inhibited the proliferation, migration, and invasion of Rb cells through SCD. This provides a new scientific basis for targeted therapy of Rb.

Molecular Genetics of Intraocular Tumors

PURPOSE

To explore the value of molecular technologies in the pathologic evaluation, diagnosis, and treatment of retinoblastoma and uveal melanoma.

METHODS

Review of the peer-reviewed literature on the molecular pathology of primary intraocular tumors.

CONCLUSION

Molecular tests are playing an increasingly important role in the diagnosis of intraocular tumors. They provide information valuable for diagnosis, prognosis, screening regimens, genetic counselling, and treatment. These technologies are becoming easier, faster, and with higher sensitivity and accuracy.

New Insights into Molecular Oncogenesis and Therapy of Uveal Melanoma

Uveal melanoma (UM), which is the most common cancer of the eye, was investigated in recent years by many teams in the field of biomedical sciences and eye clinicians. New knowledge was acquired on molecular pathways found to be dysregulated during the multistep process of oncogenesis, whereas novel therapeutic approaches gave significant results in the clinical applications. Uveal melanoma-affected patients greatly benefited from recent advances of the research in this eye cancer. Tumour biology, genetics, epigenetics and immunology contributed significantly in elucidating the role of different genes and related pathways during uveal melanoma onset/progression and UM treatments. Indeed, these investigations allowed identification of new target genes and to develop new therapeutic strategies/compounds to cure this aggressive melanoma of the eye. Unfortunately, the advances reported in the treatment of cutaneous melanoma have not produced analogous benefits in metastatic uveal melanoma. Nowadays, no systemic adjuvant therapy has been shown to improve overall survival or reduce the risk of metastasis. However, the increasing knowledge of this disease, and the encouraging results seen in clinical trials, offer promise for future effective therapies. Herein, different pathways/genes involved in uveal melanoma onset/progression were taken into consideration, together with novel therapeutic approaches.