What is ocular melanoma? Ocular melanoma, or melanoma of the eye, is the most common primary eye cancer in adults and the second most common type of melanoma, with around 2,000 new cases each year in the United States and more than 5,000 new cases globally, with thousands more living with the disease. Ocular melanoma is comprised of two types: conjunctival melanoma and the more common uveal melanoma. Uveal melanoma can occur in any of the three layers of the uvea: the choroid, the ciliary body or the iris. Like other melanomas, OM begins in melanocytes, the cells that produce the pigment melanin. Ocular melanoma is a particularly dangerous form of melanoma and accounts for approximately 5% of all melanoma cases. The disease will spread from the eye to other organs in approximately half of people with ocular melanoma. Currently no known cure for metastatic ocular melanoma exists. However, encouraging advances in research offers new hope to OM patients.
CURE OM funds critically important research. People battling OM urgently need more treatment options. Research to advance new treatments is critical. Many people with OM choose to enter clinical trials where they’re able to access cutting-edge treatments. Participating in clinical trials contributes to research advancements that benefit the entire OM community. Researchers are learning more about the biology, genetics and natural history of OM, allowing them to explore new and promising treatments. The MRF offers grants to researchers through the CURE OM initiative in order to speed the pace of discovery. Continuous support of research is the only way to achieve the advances patients need. CURE OM sponsors its own patient-driven research initiative called Virtual Information System to Improve Outcomes and Networks (VISION), an IRB-approved natural history study that captures the patient journey. The intent of the research is to centralize and study patient data from around the world. By funding this critical research, the CURE OM initiative is accelerating treatment development to bring new therapies to people with OM. To learn more about CURE OM-funded research and research updates, visit cureom.org
CURE OM advances research, patient support and education. CURE OM-FUNDED RESEARCH CURE OM funds peer-reviewed and patient- reviewed research grants to accelerate research efforts towards identifying more effective treatments and ultimately a cure for OM. EDUCATION AND SUPPORT CURE OM offers free symposia, webinars, awareness campaigns, educational materials, and advocacy initiatives and support groups for patients with OM and the people who support them. VISION PLATFORM The VISION Platform is an ocular melanoma patient-powered platform that centralizes tools and resources which consist of: • VISION patient-reported Registry • VISION Discussion Forum
TYPES OF UVEAL MELANOMA Choroidal melanoma begins in the layer of
• VISION Clinical Trials Connector Tool • VISION Patient Documents Repository • VISION Helpful Resources Library
blood vessels — the choroid — beneath the retina. It is the most common type of uveal melanoma. Iris melanoma occurs in the front, colored part of the eye. Iris melanomas usually grow slowly and do not typically metastasize, or spread, to other parts of the body outside the eye. Ciliary melanoma occurs in the back part of the eye — in the ciliary body. Melanomas in the ciliary body tend to grow and metastasize to the liver more quickly than iris melanomas.
Scan to visit melanoma.org/ visionplatform.
CURE OM puts patients at the center of research through the VISION Platform.
ONLINE SUPPORT GROUPS. The MRF’s CURE OM initiative partners with leading oncology psychology and social work programs to offer virtual support groups to the patients and caregivers in the primary and metastatic ocular melanoma community.
To learn more about each of these initiatives, visit cureom.org.
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