Experimental combined systemic and local chemotherapy for intraocular malignancy

Area of Science:

• Ophthalmology
• Oncology
• Pharmacology

Background:

• Ocular melanoma is a rare but aggressive malignancy.
• Effective treatment strategies for ocular melanoma remain a challenge.
• Carmustine is a chemotherapeutic agent with potential anti-tumor activity.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the efficacy of different administration routes of carmustine for treating transplanted Greene melanoma in rabbit eyes.
• To compare the effectiveness of intravenous, periocular, and combined administration of carmustine.

Main Methods:

• Greene melanoma was transplanted into the anterior chamber of rabbit eyes.
• Rabbits were divided into four groups: intravenous carmustine, periocular carmustine, combined administration, and untreated control.
• Tumor growth was assessed via clinical observation, enucleated eye weight, and histopathology.

Main Results:

• Carmustine administration via all tested routes delayed tumor growth compared to controls.
• Combined intravenous and periocular administration of carmustine demonstrated enhanced therapeutic effectiveness.
• Lower doses of carmustine could be used with combined administration to achieve greater efficacy.

Conclusions:

• Combined intravenous and periocular administration of carmustine is a promising approach for treating ocular melanoma.
• This combined strategy may allow for reduced dosage while improving treatment outcomes.
• Further research into optimizing carmustine delivery for ocular malignancies is warranted.