Dr. Kudchadkar on the Biological Differences Between Ocular and Cutaneous Melanoma

Ragini R. Kudchadkar, MD, associate professor, Department of Hematology and Medical Oncology, associate director, Hematology and Medical Oncology Fellowship Program-Clinical/Service, Emory University School of Medicine, Winship Cancer Institute, discusses the biological differences between ocular melanoma and cutaneous melanoma.

Ocular melanoma and cutaneous melanoma have biological differences that impact how patients respond to treatment, explains Kudchadkar.

Ocular melanoma generally metastasizes in the liver, says Kudchadkar. Additionally, ocular melanoma does not respond as well to immunotherapy and is associated with a poorer prognosis compared with cutaneous melanoma, explains Kudchadkar.

Currently, the primary means of treatment for patients with ocular melanoma is obtained through clinical trials, says Kudchadkar.

Ongoing phase 3 trials such as the FOCUS study and phase 2 trials such as the IMCgp100-202 study appear promising in developing novel treatments for patients with ocular melanoma, concludes Kudchadkar.