UCD-Led Team Find New Tools to Manage Rare Eye Cancer

Findings from an international research study involving Irish and Spanish patients reveal a candidate drug and biomarker that could be used to manage uveal melanoma.

Uveal melanoma (UM) is a rare eye cancer that begins in melanocytes – the pigment producing cells that give eyes their colour and that are also found in the back of the eye.

Ireland has the one of the highest incidence rates in the world of this rare eye cancer, which is associated with risk factors such as fair complexion, pale eyes and higher risk of burning on sun exposure.

One current eye treatment option for UM patients involves the complete removal of the eye while other patients receive radiotherapy directly on the eye. Despite this treatment, the tumour will spread (metastasise), usually to the liver, in 1 out of every 2 patients.

Many patients will undergo this life-altering surgery or local radiotherapy but will still be anxious about their risk of metastatic disease. There are limited treatment options once the disease spreads to the liver with as few as 8% of patients surviving beyond two years. New ways to identify or predict patients whose cancer has spread, and new treatments for metastatic UM are needed to improve patient outcomes.

This research initially focused on molecules called cysteinyl leukotriene (CysLT) receptors to investigate their potential as biomarkers and drug targets to treat UM. Biomarkers help to identify the patients most likely to develop metastatic UM.

CysLT are involved in inflammation and known for playing a role in allergic diseases such as asthma. More recently, they have been implicated in a wide range of diseases including central nervous system diseases and cancer.

Led by Professor Breandán Kennedy, UCD School of Biomolecular & Biomedical Science and Fellow, UCD Conway Institute, this team used patient samples and experimental models to see if levels of these molecules, CysLT receptors, are linked to patient survival and what effect the candidate drug, (1,4-dihydroxy quininib) has on them.

Uveal melanoma arises from melanocytes in the eye. The cancer can them travel to distant sites and form metastases. The UCD research team are using tumour and blood samples from UM patients to investigate drugs and prognostic biomarkers.

Dr Kayleigh Slater, postdoctoral fellow and first author on this study said, “This research builds on our previous work evaluating compounds that can interfere with CysLT receptors in UM cells in the laboratory.
We developed a laboratory model of primary UM from patient samples and a preclinical model of metastatic UM. Then, we used biochemical and pharmacological tests to gather a range of data. This preclinical data shows us firstly that higher CysLT receptor levels in primary UM tumours is an indication of poor prognosis. Secondly, our candidate drug effects the molecular hallmarks of the disease that enable the cancer to grow and spread in UM models. Thirdly, we identified a biomarker that appears to predict which patients will not develop metastatic disease.

Professor Breandán Kennedy said, ”These are positive findings using an Irish cohort of patient samples in a disease that is the primary cause of eye cancer in Ireland. We have shown that this candidate drug can act on the tumour and that the biomarkers could be valuable prognostic tools for clinicians to assess which patients are unlikely to develop metastatic disease. We are immensely grateful to the clinical team in the Royal Eye and Ear Hospital Dublin and the patients who agreed to partake in this study at a very difficult time in their lives.”

Mr Noel Horgan, consultant ophthalmologist, Royal Victoria Eye & Ear Hospital and St Vincent’s University Hospital said, “Uveal melanoma, although uncommon, occurs more often in Ireland than in other parts of the world. Unfortunately, effective treatment for advanced stage (metastatic) uveal melanoma remains elusive in many cases. Research continues to advance our understanding of this type of melanoma. Our team are delighted to collaborate with the research team at UCD in their efforts to make progress in the search for new and more effective treatments for this disease."

The research team have embedded patient involvement in their work from the start. Melody Buckley, a member of the patient support group, Ocular Melanoma Ireland who has a family member that is a uveal melanoma patient said, “I am delighted that Irish researchers have published novel research that may lead to a future cure for this rare and deadly eye cancer.

Their study, in collaboration with researchers from Spain and the UK, is particularly valuable because it suggests potential treatments in cases where the cancer has spread to the liver. Such treatments are critically needed especially for patients for whom life-prolonging alternatives such as KIMMTRAK are unsuitable. Congratulations and well done to all! We strongly encourage patients and supporters to participate in initiatives that foster collaborations with researchers and help to advance important projects such as this."

This research involves academic and industry partners in Ireland, Spain, and the United Kingdom including Trinity St. James’s Cancer Institute; Royal Victoria Eye and Ear Hospital, Dublin; Xenopat S.L.;Catalan Institute of Oncology; Bellvitge Biomedical Research Institute (IDIBELL) and CIBERESP, L’Hospitalet de Llobregat; University of Barcelona; Institute of Systems, Molecular and Integrative Biology, University of Liverpool.

Dr Slater’s research was funded primarily by the Irish Research Council and Breakthrough Cancer Research, with additional support from EU Horizon 2020, Science Foundation Ireland and the Irish Cancer Society.

Dr Frances Drummond, Research Manager, Breakthrough Cancer Research said, “We are delighted to have been able to support this incredible research by Prof. Kennedy’s team. We are committed to funding research to improve cancer care, particularly in cancers where prognosis is poor for those with metastatic disease. These findings are a positive step towards our goals of creating more survivors of cancer.”

The findings are published and available online in the January issue of the scientific journal, Frontiers in Medicine: https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmed.2022.1036322/full