Significance of Research & Future Work
One major implication of this study is that it suggests the best treatment approach for people suffering from UM. Since the results show that UM is caused by several unique genetic mutations, thus implying its heterogenous nature, a targeted therapy would not be the best approach. Targeted therapies are developed to target and inhibit the function of a specific gene or defective protein that results from genetic mutations. For example, Vitrakvi ® (larotrectinib) from Bayer is a medication for solid tumors that inhibits TRK (tyrosine kinase), a protein which promotes cancer. TRK is produced as a result of the fusion of two genes due to an underlying genetic mutation in NTRK (neurotrophic receptor tyrosine kinase). The best treatment option for UM would be some form of immunotherapy, which prevents disease by stimulating and enhancing the immune system to fight against dysfunctional proteins caused by mutations. Immunotherapy would be effective in reducing the cumulative effects of all these harmful genes and proteins. However, targeted therapy could be used to inactivate specific genes which exhibit mutations frequently in UM.