Absence of type I estrogen receptors in choroidal melanoma: Analysis of Collaborative Ocular Melanoma Study (COMS) eyes

PURPOSE: To evaluate choroidal melanomas in enucleated eyes for the presence of type I estrogen receptors. METHODS: Fourteen consecutive eyes with large choroidal melanomas (defined as >16-mm basal diameter and >8 mm thickness) from 14 patients (eight women and six men with a mean age of 57 years; range, 25-74 years) enucleated in accordance with the Collaborative Ocular Melanoma Study (COMS) protocol were investigated. Immunohistochemical techniques were employed to label the choroidal melanomas for the presence of type I estrogen receptors. Each specimen was then evaluated in a masked fashion by an experienced ophthalmic pathologist for positive nuclear staining. RESULTS: No tumors showed immunohistochemical evidence of a type I estrogen receptor. CONCLUSION: Type I estrogen receptors are not present in choroidal melanoma. Estrogens are not likely to influence choroidal melanoma growth through traditional receptors. (Am J Ophthalmol 2001;131:788-791. (C) 2001 by Elsevier Science Inc. All rights reserved.).