RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 What hope for the future? GNAQ and uveal melanoma
JF British Journal of Ophthalmology
JO Br J Ophthalmol
FD BMJ Publishing Group Ltd.
SP bjo.2010.182097
DO 10.1136/bjo.2010.182097
A1 Karen Sisley
A1 Rachel Doherty
A1 Neil A Cross
YR 2011
UL http://bjo.bmj.com/content/early/2011/03/03/bjo.2010.182097.abstract
AB Uveal melanomas (UM) are aggressive ocular tumours that spread to the liver. They are characterised by alterations of chromosome 3 and 8, which are highly predictive of a poor prognosis. Unfortunately, being able to identify those patients with aggressive disease has not, as yet, translated into improved survival. Recently, mutations of guanine nucleotide-binding protein G(q) subunit alpha (GNAQ, or G-alpha-q), which effectively turn it into a dominantly acting oncogene, have been identified in approximately half of UM. These mutations are specific to UM and other non-cutaneous melanomas, and are not found in normal tissues, thus making them potential therapeutic targets. Here, the authors review the background to GNAQ in UM and explore what makes it such an interesting target for the future treatment of patients.