Monosomy 3 by chromogenic in situ hybridization (CISH) in Iranian patients with uveal melanoma.

PURPOSE The aim of this study was to investigate the rate of monosomy 3 by CISH technique in Iranian patients with uveal melanoma (UM) and its correlation with clinical and histopathological features. METHOD Archival formalin fixed, paraffin-embedded material from 50 patients who had undergone enucleation for large uveal melanomas was obtained. Monosomy of chromosome 3 alteration by chromogenic in situ hybridization (CISH) was investigated. Clinical and histopathological features of tumors were collected. RESULTS The patients had a mean age of 56.6±7.6 years. Mean basal diameter and thickness of tumors were 14.1 mm and 10.2 mm, respectively. Four patients (8%) were identified to harbor monosomy of chromosome 3. In the mean follow-up of 5.3 years (range, 3.2-9.5 y), only one case with monosomy 3 died of UM metastasis. The most common type of cellularity was mixed cell (86%). There was not any statistically significant correlation between monosomy of chromosome 3 and type of cellularity, ciliary body involvement, and largest basal diameter. CONCLUSION The low rate of monosomy chromosome 3 and the consequent low rate of mortality may be indicative of good prognosis in Iranian patients with uveal melanoma.