# Ocular Oncology ## expand\_more ![HMS Ophthalmology Center of Excellence](/sites/g/files/omnuum9886/files/styles/hwp_1_1__100x100_scale/public/eye/files/shield_0.png?itok=EkJmwAOl) **Center of Excellence** ![Ocular Oncology Center of Excellence](/sites/g/files/omnuum9886/files/styles/hwp_1_1__960x960_scale/public/eye/files/coe-oncology-freitag-jakobiec.jpg?itok=t185kcqJ) Sort***CO-DIRECTOR*** [Ivana K. Kim, MD](/ivanakim) [Bruce R. Ksander, PhD](/bruceksander) ***MEMBERS*** [See a list of Ocular Oncology faculty](/faculty/oncology) Ocular oncology involves the study and treatment of tumors that occur in or around the eye. These tumors can range from harmless to potentially life-threatening, and may cause vision loss or loss of the eye itself. Due to the complex nature of ocular oncology, our faculty includes experts in cornea, ophthalmic plastic surgery, pathology, and retina. Mass. Eye and Ear researchers and clinician scientists have experience with a range of conditions, including ocular surface tumors, uveal melanoma, orbital tumors and inflammation, and retinoblastoma. ## Major Research Breakthoughs Researchers at Mass. Eye and Ear have made several groundbreaking advances in the field of ocular oncology, including the identification and isolation of the retinoblastoma (Rb) gene—the first known tumor-suppressor gene, which formed an important cornerstone in the molecular basis of cancer. Below are highlights of our accomplishments of the past 2o years: - Conducted the first adjuvant trial investigating the role of interferon for reducing the risk of metastasis from uveal melanoma - Contributed to the characterization of BAP1 tumor predisposition syndrome and defined the prevalence of germline BAP1 mutations in patients with uveal melanoma - Evaluated the role of antivascular endothelial growth factor therapy in preventing vision loss due to radiation retinopathy in patients with choroidal melanoma - Performed first in-human study of a novel targeted therapy for uveal melanoma - Investigated inhibitory effect of verteporfin on various tumor cell lines ## 2020 Vision: Promising Areas for Future Research Looking to the future, our investigators aim to identify new biomarkers for earlier detection of metastatic ocular melanoma, develop adjuvant therapies, and improve visual outcomes after ocular melanoma treatment. ## Recent Publications Download 4 citations download- [BibTeX](/bibcite/export?pager_style=no_pager&number_of_items=4&sort_field=bibcite_year--desc&taxonomy_filters%5Bfield_hwp_c_researcharea%5D%5B0%5D%5Btarget_id%5D=36031&&&format=bibtex) - [EndNote X3 XML](/bibcite/export?pager_style=no_pager&number_of_items=4&sort_field=bibcite_year--desc&taxonomy_filters%5Bfield_hwp_c_researcharea%5D%5B0%5D%5Btarget_id%5D=36031&&&format=endnote8) - [EndNote 7 XML](/bibcite/export?pager_style=no_pager&number_of_items=4&sort_field=bibcite_year--desc&taxonomy_filters%5Bfield_hwp_c_researcharea%5D%5B0%5D%5Btarget_id%5D=36031&&&format=endnote7) - [Endnote tagged](/bibcite/export?pager_style=no_pager&number_of_items=4&sort_field=bibcite_year--desc&taxonomy_filters%5Bfield_hwp_c_researcharea%5D%5B0%5D%5Btarget_id%5D=36031&&&format=tagged) - [Marc](/bibcite/export?pager_style=no_pager&number_of_items=4&sort_field=bibcite_year--desc&taxonomy_filters%5Bfield_hwp_c_researcharea%5D%5B0%5D%5Btarget_id%5D=36031&&&format=marc) - [PubMedId](/bibcite/export?pager_style=no_pager&number_of_items=4&sort_field=bibcite_year--desc&taxonomy_filters%5Bfield_hwp_c_researcharea%5D%5B0%5D%5Btarget_id%5D=36031&&&format=pubmed_id) - [RIS](/bibcite/export?pager_style=no_pager&number_of_items=4&sort_field=bibcite_year--desc&taxonomy_filters%5Bfield_hwp_c_researcharea%5D%5B0%5D%5Btarget_id%5D=36031&&&format=ris) ### 2024 Suwajanakorn, Lane, Go, Hartley, Oxenreiter, Wu, Gragoudas E, Sullivan, Montazeri, Kim I. [Impact of gene expression profiling on diagnosis and survival after metastasis in patients with uveal melanoma](/publications/impact-gene-expression-profiling-diagnosis-and-survival-after-metastasis-patients). Melanoma Res. 2024; PMID: 38578293 Suwajanakorn, Lane, Go, Hartley, Oxenreiter, Wu, Gragoudas E, Sullivan, Montazeri, Kim I. [Impact of gene expression profiling on diagnosis and survival after metastasis in patients with uveal melanoma](/publications/impact-gene-expression-profiling-diagnosis-and-survival-after-metastasis-patients). Melanoma Res. 2024; PMID: 38578293 - add\_circle do\_not\_disturb\_on Abstract Surveillance frequency for metastasis is guided by gene expression profiling (GEP). This study evaluated the effect of GEP on time to diagnosis of metastasis, subsequent treatment and survival. A retrospective study was conducted of 110 uveal melanoma... McCoskey M, Reshef E, Wolkow N, Yoon M. [Bilateral enlargement of all extraocular muscles: a presenting ophthalmic sign of hematologic malignancy](/publications/bilateral-enlargement-all-extraocular-muscles-presenting-ophthalmic-sign). Orbit. 2024;43(1):160–163. PMID: 35734822 McCoskey M, Reshef E, Wolkow N, Yoon M. [Bilateral enlargement of all extraocular muscles: a presenting ophthalmic sign of hematologic malignancy](/publications/bilateral-enlargement-all-extraocular-muscles-presenting-ophthalmic-sign). Orbit. 2024;43(1):160–163. PMID: 35734822 - add\_circle do\_not\_disturb\_on Abstract Hematologic malignancies such as leukemia and lymphoma can frequently present in the orbit; however, involvement of the extraocular muscles is rare. The authors report two cases of systemic hematologic malignancy presenting with bilateral extraocular... ### 2023 Kim E, Lee J, Ganga A, Barton A, Rana V, Araia E, Adriance W, Wang R, Somsasundar P, Kim L. [Analysis of Uveal Melanoma 5-Year Survival Rates by Medicaid Status: A Nationwide Analysis](/publications/analysis-uveal-melanoma-5-year-survival-rates-medicaid-status-nationwide-analysis). Ophthalmic Epidemiol. 2023;:1–7. PMID: 37964586 Kim E, Lee J, Ganga A, Barton A, Rana V, Araia E, Adriance W, Wang R, Somsasundar P, Kim L. [Analysis of Uveal Melanoma 5-Year Survival Rates by Medicaid Status: A Nationwide Analysis](/publications/analysis-uveal-melanoma-5-year-survival-rates-medicaid-status-nationwide-analysis). Ophthalmic Epidemiol. 2023;:1–7. PMID: 37964586 - add\_circle do\_not\_disturb\_on Abstract PURPOSE: The survival outcomes of patients with primary uveal melanomas based on Medicaid status have not been previously discussed in the literature. METHODS: The Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results Medicaid database were utilized to identify... Philip A, Anesi S, Foster S, Chang P. [Ocular Inflammatory Complications of Treatment for Metastatic Melanoma](/publications/ocular-inflammatory-complications-treatment-metastatic-melanoma-0). Ocul Immunol Inflamm. 2023;31(8):1669–1673. PMID: 35914291 Philip A, Anesi S, Foster S, Chang P. [Ocular Inflammatory Complications of Treatment for Metastatic Melanoma](/publications/ocular-inflammatory-complications-treatment-metastatic-melanoma-0). Ocul Immunol Inflamm. 2023;31(8):1669–1673. PMID: 35914291 - add\_circle do\_not\_disturb\_on Abstract PURPOSE: To characterize various ocular inflammatory complications arising from metastatic cutaneous melanoma therapies and their management. METHODS: Retrospective case series of patients who were referred to a tertiary uveitis practice for ophthalmic... [ More arrow\_circle\_right ](/publications)