Page 14 - Envision January-February 2020

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V ISION S CIENCE R E SE AR CH

“ is the key to enable treatment and prevent spread of the disease.
The key take home message from this study is that early detection

Since this blood test is not yet available, regular eye checks
“
by an optical specialist are recommended.

In the Australian research, blood samples
were collected from people with either
BLOOD TEST FOR OCULAR MELANOMA benign nevi or melanoma in the back of
A simple blood test could soon facilitate their eye, in addition to a small number
the early detection of melanoma in the eye. of metastasised cases. The samples were
then tested against a panel of microRNA
The test, developed by an Australian biomarkers to distinguish the stage of the
research team, can detect the difference disease.
between a benign mole located at the
back of the eye and a melanoma in the The blood test has the potential to be used
eye with 100 per cent specificity and 93 as a monitoring tool in conjunction with
per cent sensitivity. It was developed by optometrists, GPs and specialists, says
Dr. Mitchell Stark and his research team at Dr. Stark. “If someone went to their
the University of Queensland Diamantina optometrist for a regular check-up and a
Institute. mole was found, you could have this blood
test done at each subsequent visit to help
Uveal nevi (moles) at the back of the eye are monitor mole changes. If an increase of the
fairly common and sometimes mimic early biomarker panel above a threshold level is
melanoma, says Dr. Stark. Unfortunately, detected, it might be an early warning sign
their transformation potential cannot be of melanoma.
definitively determined without a biopsy,
which is difficult to perform. For that “Knowing this patient was high-risk means
reason, they are usually “monitored” they could be monitored more closely for
regularly. But that, too, can be a challenge the potential spread of cancer; they could
/ DR. MITCHELL STARK / because changes to their shape or colouring also be moved more rapidly through the
can’t always be detected as easily as they healthcare system.”
can on the skin.
The next phase of Dr. Stark’s research is
That’s why a blood test that can determine to increase the collection of specimens to
the difference between a benign mole confirm the team’s findings in an
and a melanoma at a very early stage is so independent study. Following this, a clinical
valuable. As in other types of cancer, the trial will be designed to assess the clinical
earlier you detect melanoma the better: utility of the blood test.
/ EYE MELANOMA / this dramatically increases the chances of
successful treatment and reduces the risks “The key take home message from this
of metastasis. study is that early detection is the key to
enable treatment and prevent spread of the
disease,” he notes. “Since this blood test is
not yet available, regular eye checks by an
optical specialist are recommended.”

12 / JANUARY—FEBRUARY 2020 / www.ENVISIONMAGAZINE.ca /