Fresh tissue harvest and histopathologic processing of uveal melanoma specimens: Implications for basic research and patient care

Abstract

7535 Background: To determine the impact of immediate harvest of fresh uveal melanoma at the time of enucleation on subsequent histopathologic assessment of the enucleated specimen in patients with uveal melanoma. Fresh uveal tissue harvest is necessary to analyze transcript expression via DNA microarrays. Methods: We conducted a prospective nonrandomized trial in patients with uveal melanoma who underwent primary enucleation at our institution between January 2002 and April 2004. In each case, the enucleated globe was transilluminated to permit accurate delineation of the location of the tumor. The globe was then transected away from the tumor site, and uveal melanoma cells (representing less than half of the tumor mass) were harvested prior to formalin fixation of the rest of the ocular specimen. The harvested tissue was frozen within 30 minutes after enucleation and was stored for future DNA, RNA, and protein extraction. Results: Eleven patients were eligible for the study, and all 11 chose to participate and underwent harvest of fresh uveal melanoma. In all 11 patients, the fresh tissue harvest did not compromise the ability of the ocular pathologist to comment on the usual prognostic features of uveal melanoma, such as tumor type and grade, presence of extrascleral extension, and involvement of the ocular microvasculature. Conclusions: Immediate harvest of fresh uveal melanoma can be performed at the time of enucleation without compromising histopathologic assessment of the specimen. Fresh frozen uveal melanoma can be used for future DNA, RNA, and protein extraction. The extracted material can be used for assessing somatic mutations, transcript analysis and protein expression. No significant financial relationships to disclose.