Melanoma/Skin Cancer Health Center

Extrascleral extension usually confers a poor prognosis. For patients with gross tumor involvement of the orbit, treatment requires orbital exenteration often combined with preoperative or postoperative radiation therapy; however, there is no evidence that this radical surgery will prolong life. Most patients with localized or encapsulated extraocular extension are not exenterated. This subject is controversial.[1,2,3,4,5]

No effective method of systemic treatment has been identified for patients with metastatic ocular melanoma.[6]

Current Clinical Trials

Check for U.S. clinical trials from NCI's list of cancer clinical trials that are now accepting patients with extraocular extension melanoma and metastatic intraocular melanoma. The list of clinical trials can be further narrowed by location, drug, intervention, and other criteria.

General information about clinical trials is also available from the NCI Web site.

References:

1. Shammas HF, Blodi FC: Prognostic factors in choroidal and ciliary body melanomas. Arch Ophthalmol 95 (1): 63-9, 1977.
2. Pach JM, Robertson DM, Taney BS, et al.: Prognostic factors in choroidal and ciliary body melanomas with extrascleral extension. Am J Ophthalmol 101 (3): 325-31, 1986.
3. Kersten RC, Tse DT, Anderson RL, et al.: The role of orbital exenteration in choroidal melanoma with extrascleral extension. Ophthalmology 92 (3): 436-43, 1985.
4. Hykin PG, McCartney AC, Plowman PN, et al.: Postenucleation orbital radiotherapy for the treatment of malignant melanoma of the choroid with extrascleral extension. Br J Ophthalmol 74 (1): 36-9, 1990.
5. Gündüz K, Shields CL, Shields JA, et al.: Plaque radiotherapy for management of ciliary body and choroidal melanoma with extraocular extension. Am J Ophthalmol 130 (1): 97-102, 2000.
6. Wöll E, Bedikian A, Legha SS: Uveal melanoma: natural history and treatment options for metastatic disease. Melanoma Res 9 (6): 575-81, 1999.