Inflammatory, angiogenic, and immune processes have been associated with uveal melanoma (UM).,The aim of the present study was to evaluate the presence of some specific aqueous humor (AH) soluble biomarkers in eyes affected by UM.,Thirty-five eyes affected by primary UM and 35 control eyes, scheduled for cataract surgery, underwent full ophthalmic examination and AH sampling at time of surgery (brachytherapy or cataract surgery, respectively).,AH samples were analyzed by means of ELISA, to detect the concentration of selected cytokines, chemokines, and growth factors.,Compared with the control group, higher levels of IL-6 (P = .049), IL-8 (P = .006), RANTES (P = .008), EGF (P = .032), bFGF (P = .016), MIF (P = .007), and MCP (P = .020) were detected in eyes with UM.,VEGF concentration between the two groups was statistically borderline (P = .058).,Comparison between clinical characteristics and cytokine concentrations showed a positive correlation between tumor thickness and IL-8 (P = .032), and degree of serous retinal detachment and IL-6 (P = .021).,UM is characterized by the presence of retinal neuroinflammatory, angiogenic, and immune biomarkers in AH.,The proteomic analysis of AH could characterize UM microenvironment, allowing to better understand its pathophysiology.
Uveal melanoma (UM) is the major intraocular malignancy in adults, of which the molecular biology is still unknown.,Therefore, this study was designed to determine the aqueous concentrations of angiogenic, inflammatory, and chemotactic cytokines in eyes with UM.,Aqueous humor samples were collected from 38 patients with UM and 22 patients undergoing cataract surgery.,Interleukin 6, 8 (IL-6, IL-8, respectively), interferon-inducible protein-10 (IP-10), placental growth factor1 (PIGF1), regulated on activation, normal T Cell expressed and secreted (RANTES), monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1), nerve growth factor-beta (NGF-β), epidermal growth factor (EGF), basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF), and vascular endothelia growth factor A (VEGF-A) were assessed by multiplex bead assay.,In the study group, significantly higher concentrations of IL-6 (P = .006), IL-8 (P = .018), IP-10 (P = .004), RANTES (P = .008), MCP-1 (P = .02), NGF-β (P = .013), EGF (P < .001), PIGF1 (P = .01), bFGF (P = .016), and VEGF (P = .017) were measured, when compared with the control group.,Several angiogenic, inflammatory, and chemotactic cytokines are highly expressed in the aqueous humor of the UM eyes, which provides new insights into the pathophysiology of UM and could be potential targets for treatment.