Post-operative interventional radiotherapy (brachytherapy) in advanced ocular surface and eyelid tumors as an alternative to surgical retreatment.

PURPOSE: The main purpose of treatment of advanced ocular surface and periocular malignant tumors is to eradicate the tumor while trying to preserve visual function and aesthetics. Our purpose is to describe the outcome of a retrospective case series of 10 patients with advanced ocular surface and periocular tumors treated surgically in first instance and then with postoperative interventional radiotherapy (IRT/Brachiterapy). MATERIALS AND METHODS: We describe the clinicopathological features, treatments and outcome, in a retrospective case series of 10 patients with advanced tumors involving ocular surface (staging ≥ T2) and eyelids (staging ≥ T3), with involvement of periocular and/or orbit tissues. Patients were first surgically treated, most of them with incomplete excision, and then underwent a post-operative interventional radiotherapy (IRT/Brachytherapy) as an alternative to more invasive and disfiguring surgical retreatment. Tumor location, risk factors, staging, histological features, and follow-up timing were analyzed. RESULTS: Three patients had advanced eyelid basal cell carcinomas, 2 patients were diagnosed with eyelid and conjunctival squamous cell carcinomas, 3 as sebaceous carcinomas, and 2 as primary conjunctival melanomas. The mean follow-up time from IRT to last clinical follow-up was 58.6 weeks, range 28.4-168 (median 43.65, IQR 28.9-72.9). Two patients - one with ocular surface SCC, the other with conjunctival melanoma - had a local recurrence 23.4 and 40,9 weeks after IRT, respectively. An overview of the current knowledge on adjuvant or post-operative IRT is also provided. CONCLUSIONS: IRT can be considered an effective therapeutic option to avoid more invasive surgical retreatment in advanced tumors involving eyelids and ocular surface.

Multimodal ocular imaging in Proteus syndrome.

In this report we illustrate the ophthalmologic assessment of two patients affected by Proteus Syndrome (PS), an extremely rare genetic disorder. Case #1 describes a 26 year old male patient followed for multiple ophthalmic anomalies: a limbal dermoid cyst, a unilateral cataract, bilateral nystagmus, severe myopia and unilateral optic nerve head drusen. Case #2 describes a 20 year old female patient referred to our Ophthalmology Department for a routine ophthalmologic evaluation after being treated for 3 years with Miransertib (an experimental AKT-pathway inhibitor). Both patients underwent a complete ophthalmologic examination and a multimodal imaging evaluation. The multimodal imaging approach has revealed useful to evaluate both cases in detail and to keep track of disease evolution over time, moreover providing helpful features to further characterize this rare syndrome.

Multidisciplinary ocular and periocular cancers meetings: implementation in a tertiary referral center and analysis over a 12-months period.

PURPOSE: The complexity of multimodal approaches in cancer management has lately led to the establishment of multidisciplinary tumor boards (MDTBs) to define targeted, patient-centered treatment strategies. However, few data are available regarding the application of this approach in Ocular Oncology. Hereby, the Authors analyze the implementation and outcomes of a trained MDTB in a tertiary ocular oncology referral center. METHODS: A retrospective descriptive analysis of MDTB meetings discussing patients with ocular and periocular cancers, over a 12-months period, was carried out. Data were grouped by main site involved, topics discussed and final clinical decisions therefore taken. Meetings were held by a constant 'Core team' or - when required - by a broader 'Extended team'. RESULTS: During the observational period 86 cases were discussed. In 27 patients ocular surface tissues were involved (31%), in 25 patients orbital tissues (29%), in 22 patients eyelids (26%), and in 12 patients intraocular tissues (14%). In 13 cases (15%) naïve or referred new patients, in 34 cases (40%) imaging or histopathologic reports and in 39 cases (45%) treatment plans were discussed. Regarding final decisions, a treatment plan was scheduled in 47 cases (55%) and a diagnostic ascertainment was required in 27 patients (31%); locally advanced and/or systemic diseases were referred or teamed up with other specialists in 12 cases (14%). CONCLUSIONS: Ocular Oncology multidisciplinary team, by sharing expertise of different specialists, ensures a comprehensive evaluation of patients improving the accuracy of diagnosis and staging upon which planning a proper treatment. Further studies are needed to assess if this approach may also improve the outcomes and prognosis of patients.

Correction to: Signaling lipids as diagnostic biomarkers for ocular surface cicatrizing conjunctivitis.

The correct name of the 11th Author and the missing Acknowledgment is presented in this paper.

Signaling lipids as diagnostic biomarkers for ocular surface cicatrizing conjunctivitis.

Metabolomics has been applied to diagnose diseases, predict disease progression, and design therapeutic strategies in various areas of medicine. However, it remains to be applied to the ocular surface diseases, where biological samples are often of limited quantities. We successfully performed proof-of-concept metabolomics assessment of volume-limited cytology samples from a clinical form of chronic inflammatory cicatrizing conjunctivitis, i.e., ocular MMP and discovered metabolic changes of signaling lipid mediators upon disease onset and progression. The metabolomics assessment revealed active oxylipins, lysophospholipids, fatty acids, and endocannabinoids alterations, from which potential biomarkers linked to inflammatory processes were identified. Possible underlying mechanisms such as dysregulated enzyme activities (e.g., lipoxygenases, cytochrome P450, and phospholipases) were suggested which may be considered as potential therapeutic targets in future studies. KEY MESSAGES: Metabolic profile of the ocular surface can be measured using impression cytology samples. Metabolomics analysis of ocular pemphigoid is presented for the first time. The metabolomics assessment of OCP patients revealed active oxylipins, lysophospholipids, fatty acids, and endocannabinoids alterations. Several oxylipins are identified as diagnostic biomarkers for OCP.