FISH analysis of chromosomes 3 and 6 on fine needle aspiration biopsy samples identifies distinct subgroups of uveal melanomas.

Purpose Circumstantial evidence suggests that development of uveal melanoma may be associated to two different pathogenetic pathways, either loss of chromosome 3 or extra copies of 6p (+6p). Chromosome 3 monosomy (−3) is detected in approximately half of uveal melanomas, and is strongly linked to metastatic disease, whereas +6p accounts for one-fourth of uveal melanomas with no clear clinical correlations. The aim of our study was to verify if the analysis of chromosomes 3 and 6 was able to distinguish two groups of patients for translating this approach in the clinical practise as prognostic tool.