The Hans Grossniklaus Research Group
The Problem
The Grossniklaus lab focuses on translational research regarding ocular tumors and choroidal neovascularization (CNV). The two main types of ocular tumors are uveal melanoma (UM) and retinoblastoma (RB)
The Focus
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The Approach
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Ongoing Research
Mechanisms of Metastasis of UM
Sponsors: National Institutes of Health, Emory Eye Center
As a part of a review panel for the NIH-sponsored Collaborative Ocular Melanoma Study (COMS) Dr. Grossniklaus examined and reported on the pathology of approximately 1,200 eyes with choroidal melanoma in the context of a large prospective multi-center clinical trial. He developed a mouse model of ocular melanoma that metastasizes to the liver and showed a relationship between primary tumor vascularity and number of metastases. Grossniklaus confirmed the latter, in vitro with a microbubble contrast agent.
Dr. Grossniklaus discovered that ocular melanoma forms micrometastases that have the ability to grow and become vascularized in the liver, a finding later corroborated in humans. His research group has also been able to exacerbate this growth with immune modulation - in particular with eliminating NK cells - and control the growth and progression with pharmaceutical agents.