Concurrent loss of chromosome arm 1p and chromosome 3 predicts a decreased disease-free survival in uveal melanoma patients.
OBJECTIVE
Uveal melanoma is a highly malignant disease with a mortality rate of 50% at 10 to 15 years. Previous studies have shown that chromosomal changes are associated with decreased survival of the patient. However, in these studies the small number of tumors analyzed did not allow robust statistical analysis. In the present study, the independent numerical changes in chromosomes 1, 3, 6, and 8 on disease-free survival (DFS) was assessed in a large series of patients with uveal melanoma.


METHODS
One hundred twenty tumors from patients with uveal melanoma were analyzed for numerical changes in chromosomes 1, 3, 6, and 8, with cytogenetic analysis, fluorescent in situ hybridization, and/or comparative genomic hybridization. Data were correlated with disease outcome in univariate and multivariate analyses, by Kaplan-Meier and Cox regression analyses.


RESULTS
At a mean follow-up time of 45 months, 42 patients had died or had metastatic disease. In the univariate analysis, loss of chromosome 3, gain of 8q, largest tumor diameter, or the presence of epithelioid cells was associated with a decreased DFS. In the multivariate analysis, the effect of monosomy 3 on survival was largely modified by changes in 1p36. Regarding all chromosomal changes, only the concurrent loss of the short arm of chromosome 1 and all of chromosome 3 was an independent prognostic parameter for disease-free survival (P < 0.001).


CONCLUSIONS
In uveal melanoma, concurrent loss of the short arm of chromosome 1 and all of chromosome 3 is an independent predictor of decreased DFS.
Department of Ophthalmology, Erasmus MC, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
Emine
E
Kilic
Nicole C
NC
Naus
Walter
W
van Gils
Caroline C
CC
Klaver
Marjan E
ME
van Til
Michael M
MM
Verbiest
Theo
T
Stijnen
Cornelia M
CM
Mooy
Dion
D
Paridaens
H Berna
HB
Beverloo
Gregorius P
GP
Luyten
Annelies
A
de Klein
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002869:Chromosome Aberrations; D002872:Chromosome Deletion; D002878:Chromosomes, Human, Pair 1 / Q000235:genetics*; D002893:Chromosomes, Human, Pair 3 / Q000235:genetics*; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D017404:In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence; D008297:Male; D008545:Melanoma / Q000235:genetics* / Q000401:mortality; D008875:Middle Aged; D009693:Nucleic Acid Hybridization; D014604:Uveal Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics* / Q000401:mortality