Ipsilateral metastatic choroidal melanoma responds to systemic immunotherapy

To report that metastatic choroidal melanoma (systemic and intraocular) can respond to systemic immunotherapy.

In 2010, a 64-year-old woman with a choroidal melanoma was treated with palladium-103 plaque brachytherapy. Developing 2.5 years later, radiation maculopathy was suppressed with periodic intravitreal anti-vascular endothelial growth factor injections for five additional years. Development of a new, discrete choroidal melanoma in the same eye prompted radiographic imaging of the orbits, abdomen/pelvis, and chest. Multi-organ metastasis in the eye, the liver, and nodes was treated with systemic combination immunotherapy with ipilimumab (3 mg/kg) and nivolumab (1 mg/kg) intravenous every 3 weeks for four cycles followed by nivolumab (3 mg/kg) intravenous every 4 weeks as maintenance. Subsequent ophthalmic and systemic surveillance were performed.

All sites of metastases were found to regress on systemic immunotherapy. For example, ophthalmic ultrasound imaging revealed that the intraocular metastasis was reduced from 6.6 to 1.5 mm in thickness. Synchronously, serial radiographic imaging revealed progressive shrinkage and disappearance of hepatic and nodal metastasis (except for one gastrohepatic node). However, combination stereotactic body radiation therapy (30 Gy) with nivolumab maintenance was found to induce a significant reduction in this remaining node. Continued periodic intraocular anti-vascular endothelial growth factor therapy has suppressed her radiation maculopathy resulting in 20/25 vision, now 8 ½ years after initial plaque therapy.

This case shows that metastatic choroidal melanoma can present in the same eye as the primary tumor. It also shows that systemic immunotherapy can control both ocular and systemic metastases as well as prolong both life and sight.