1Schaller U. C., 1Mueller A. J., 2Bartsch D. U., 3Folberg B., 2Freeman W. R., 1Kampik A.

1Department of Ophthalmology, Ludwig Maximilians University, Mathildenstr. 8, 80336 Munich, Germany; 2Shiley Eye Center, UCSD, La Jolla, Ca, USA; 3Pathology, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA

To study the human uveal melanoma and its metastases a reliable animal model would be of great value. The SCID-mouse is an immunodeficiency mutation with a lack of B- and T- cells. The human uveal melanoma / SCIDmouse model is already a reliable animal model for morphological, biochemical, immunologic and therapeutic studies (Schaller et al. IOVS 2001;42:110 / Mueller et al IOVS 1999;40:247).
Purpose of this study was to study the metastatic potential of a human choroidal melanoma cell line.
Methods: A human melanoma cultured cell line (OCM1) was injected transsclerally into the choroid of right eyes of 12 SCID mice. The mice were sacrified after 20 days. The eyes were examined histopathologically regarding melanoma growth. Internal organs were examined regarding overt metastases.
Results: In all eyes tumor growth could be documented originating from the choroid. No metastases was found in any mouse.
Conclusion: The reason for the absence of systemic metastases may be moderate metastatic potential of the OCM1 cell line (Caissie et al. IOVS 2001;42:218) or too short observation period (Schaller et al IOVS 1998;39:414). Therefore, further investigations with longer observation periods and a cell line with a high metastatic potential are required.

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