Molecular characteristics of uveal melanoma and intraocular tumors (Review)

Malignant melanomas within the eye present different types of metabolic and metastatic behavior.Uveal melanoma (UM) affects a quarter of a million individuals in the USA; however, the molecular pathogenesis is not well understood.Although UV radiation is a risk factor in cutaneous melanomas, it is not crucial for UM progression.Apart from chromosomal abnormalities, numerous major tumorigenic signaling pathways, including the PI3K/Akt, MAPK/ERK, Ras-association domain family 1 isoform A and Yes-associated protein/transcriptional co-activator with PDZ-binding motif signaling pathways, are associated with intraocular tumors.The present review describes the current insights regarding these signaling pathways that regulate the cell cycle and apoptosis, and could be used as potential targets for the treatment of UMs. Contents1. Introduction 2. Chromosomal origin of UM 3. Cell death regulation 4. G protein subunit αq and G protein subunit α11 5. RAS interactions 6. PI3K/Akt/PTEN signaling pathway 7. MAPK/ERK signaling pathway 8. Yes-associated protein/transcriptional co-activator with PDZ-binding motif signaling pathway and its potential for treatment 9. p53 10.CDK and cyclin kinase inhibitors 11.