Objective:This review serves as a comprehensive description and summary of currently available preclinical models of three tumors in ophthalmic oncology:conjunctival melanoma(CM),uveal melanoma(UM),and retinoblastoma....Objective:This review serves as a comprehensive description and summary of currently available preclinical models of three tumors in ophthalmic oncology:conjunctival melanoma(CM),uveal melanoma(UM),and retinoblastoma.Background:Malignant melanomas are the most common tumors of the eye in adults,most often localized in the uvea and conjunctiva.Although the primary tumor can be successfully eliminated in many cases,nearly one in two UMs-and one in three CMs-are fatal to the patient due to metastasis.Effective therapies for metastatic uveal and CMs are unfortunately still not available,so there is an urgent need for new therapeutic strategies to improve prognosis quoad vitam and prolong the survival of melanoma patients.Another widely known tumor of the eye is retinoblastoma,which is the most common pediatric ocular malignancy,occurring in approximately 1 in 15,000-18,000 live births.Overall,it is considered well treatable,with a survival rate of approximately 90%at 3 years,although fatal if untreated.For a long time,enucleation was also considered the treatment of choice,with bilateral cases having one eye irradiated and the eye with the more advanced tumor removed.Since the 1990s,however,systemic chemotherapy has been predominantly used to preserve the quality of life and vision of young patients,although the cellular activity of the retinoblastoma often remains after treatment with chemotherapeutic agents.Prognosis of the disease is immensely depending on the stage and time of diagnosis and is varying between countries due to different developmental status of health care systems.Methods:We review recent advances in the available literature on established preclinical models in CM,UM,and retinoblastoma.In addition,we discuss the advantages and limitations of these models and provide an overview of current alternatives to animal testing in preclinical studies.Conclusions:In the case of all three diseases,further research is needed for improved therapeutic options.Animal models in particular are indispensable for cancer research in order to mimic the extremely complex processes of human carcinogenesis,physiology and progression.Certainly,animal studies do not easily translate to human diseases due to biological differences and limitations.However,they continue to serve as the primary source and link between in vitro testing and clinical studies in patients.In order to minimize animal experiments and possibly even replace them in the future,alternatives such as 3D cell cultures and in silico predictions are useful and insightful additions and require further development.Still,no currently available preclinical model can be fully translated to some of here described diseases.Nevertheless,they all provide essential insights and knowledge that should be of use in the future for better understanding and pursuit of new therapeutic strategies.展开更多
文摘Objective:This review serves as a comprehensive description and summary of currently available preclinical models of three tumors in ophthalmic oncology:conjunctival melanoma(CM),uveal melanoma(UM),and retinoblastoma.Background:Malignant melanomas are the most common tumors of the eye in adults,most often localized in the uvea and conjunctiva.Although the primary tumor can be successfully eliminated in many cases,nearly one in two UMs-and one in three CMs-are fatal to the patient due to metastasis.Effective therapies for metastatic uveal and CMs are unfortunately still not available,so there is an urgent need for new therapeutic strategies to improve prognosis quoad vitam and prolong the survival of melanoma patients.Another widely known tumor of the eye is retinoblastoma,which is the most common pediatric ocular malignancy,occurring in approximately 1 in 15,000-18,000 live births.Overall,it is considered well treatable,with a survival rate of approximately 90%at 3 years,although fatal if untreated.For a long time,enucleation was also considered the treatment of choice,with bilateral cases having one eye irradiated and the eye with the more advanced tumor removed.Since the 1990s,however,systemic chemotherapy has been predominantly used to preserve the quality of life and vision of young patients,although the cellular activity of the retinoblastoma often remains after treatment with chemotherapeutic agents.Prognosis of the disease is immensely depending on the stage and time of diagnosis and is varying between countries due to different developmental status of health care systems.Methods:We review recent advances in the available literature on established preclinical models in CM,UM,and retinoblastoma.In addition,we discuss the advantages and limitations of these models and provide an overview of current alternatives to animal testing in preclinical studies.Conclusions:In the case of all three diseases,further research is needed for improved therapeutic options.Animal models in particular are indispensable for cancer research in order to mimic the extremely complex processes of human carcinogenesis,physiology and progression.Certainly,animal studies do not easily translate to human diseases due to biological differences and limitations.However,they continue to serve as the primary source and link between in vitro testing and clinical studies in patients.In order to minimize animal experiments and possibly even replace them in the future,alternatives such as 3D cell cultures and in silico predictions are useful and insightful additions and require further development.Still,no currently available preclinical model can be fully translated to some of here described diseases.Nevertheless,they all provide essential insights and knowledge that should be of use in the future for better understanding and pursuit of new therapeutic strategies.
