Uveal melanoma is the most common primary malignant intraocular tumour in adults and despite advances in treatment of the primary tumour, the 10-year survival rate remains unchanged. The most frequent cause of death for patients of this disease is liver metastases. Removal of the primary tumour before clinical presentation of metastases, however, has no effect on patient outcome. / In order to understand the interactions between single malignant cells or sub-clinical metastases and affected organs, we have successfully developed a novel animal model of uveal melanoma. We utilized the unique properties of green fluorescent protein, a skin-flap in vivo imaging technique, and nude mice to accomplish this goal. The precision of green fluorescent protein imaging has allowed us to observe single cells interacting with organ tissues and reveal that these malignant cells are only capable of surviving in the liver.

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