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Research on the causes and thereafter treatment of eye cancers is an ongoing project. As they are less common they provide more of a challenge to scientists. But each year we are developing more understanding as to what causes the diseases and how best to improve treatment for patients.
In the Genes
Investigating changes in the genes linked to these cancers is highly likely to play a pivotal role in treating intraocular melanomas, lymphomas, and other eye cancers in the future. It is hoped that tests will be developed that will identify people who are at higher risk of contracting the diseases and to have them closely screened.
Genetically profiling the tumors may also assist in predicting the chances of the tumor spreading. For example, in uveal melanoma, certain genetic changes, such as the loss of one copy of chromosome 3, have been linked to an increased risk cancer spread.
Doctors may test for these changes to attempt identifying the patients who could benefit from a more aggressive treatment type.
Identifying changes in the gene may also provide specific targets for which newer drugs to the market may work. This is an ongoing area of research.
Treating the Body's Immune System
Immunotherapies are treatments that get our own immune system to attack the cancer.
Vaccines, cytokines, and monoclonal antibodies, along with other immunotherapies are among the most affiant new approaches for treating melanoma and lymphoma. Although the majority of clinical trials of these treatments include patients diagnosed with skin melanomas and lymphomas beginning in the lymph nodes, results of these trials may help treat people with intraocular melanoma and lymphoma too.
An example is ipilimumab (Yervoy), a monoclonal antibody drug type that assists in boosting the immune systems overall activity. Research has documented patients with advanced skin melanomas living longer, although side effects can be very harsh. It is undetermined whether similar drugs will help against melanomas of the eye.
Targeted Drugs
Researchers have begun to develop drugs that target the studied cell changes causing the cells to become cancerous. They have very different side effects to chemotherapy drugs but are far less severe, plus they can be used in isolation or combined with other therapies.
Most targeted cancer therapies will not cause bone marrow or blood cell damage like the majority of standard chemotherapy drugs. But even though they target the majority cancer cells, they can still cause side effects and in some studies, serious reactions.
Many targeted drugs are already being used for other types of cancer. Some of them are currently under research for use against melanoma of the eye as well, including sunitinib (Sutent®), imatinib (Gleevec), and everolimus (Afinitor®).
Anti-angiogenesis drugs target the blood vessels that allow a tumor to grow. One example is bevacizumab (Avastin®), which is already is use for treatment of other cancers. It may assist in reducing some of the side effects from radiation, which may help patients retain more vision after their treatment. It is also being studied for use along with chemotherapy.