Murine model of anterior and posterior ocular melanoma.

Iris melanomas are less likely to metastasize than ciliary body or choroidal melanomas. In order to study this difference in metastatic rate, we developed a murine model of anterior chamber (AC) and posterior compartment (PC) melanoma. Eighteen C57BL6 mice were inoculated in the AC (n = 6) or PC (n = 12) with B16F10 melanoma cells and eleven mice were inoculated in the AC (n = 3) or PC (n = 8) with Queens melanoma cells. The animals were sacrificed at 12 to 14 days post inoculation and histologically examined. Results were that 8 of 9 AC tumors and 10 of 20 PC tumors grew. One PC tumor metastasized to the lungs. This model may be used to study anterior versus posterior ocular melanoma differences.