Intravitreal Ranibizumab for the Prevention of Radiation Maculopathy Following Plaque Radiotherapy
Status:
Unknown status
Trial end date:
2009-04-01
Target enrollment:
Participant gender:
Summary
Uveal Melanoma is the most common primary intraocular malignancy in adulthood. Eye preserving
treatments can deliver equivalent life prognosis in the management of small and medium sized
uveal melanomas, as compared to enucleation. Plaque radiotherapy has emerged as the most
common eye-preserving treatment in the current management of uveal melanoma, but is
complicated by visual loss in approximately 70% of patients at 10 years follow-up. Strategies
for the prevention and early treatment of radiation retinopathy/maculopathy need to be
developed to improve visual outcomes following plaque treatment. Ranibizumab (Lucentis) is
the antigen binding fragment of a recombinant, humanized monoclonal antibody, which inhibits
the activity of vascular endothelial growth factor A, a mediator in the development of
choroidal neovascularization. Lucentis is commonly used in the eye for eye conditions such as
age related macular degeneration. This study will investigate the possible benefit of
Anti-VEGF therapy (Lucentis) in reducing the incidence of radiation complications following
plaque radiation for uveal melanoma.