Linking Megalin, Cubilin, Caveolin-1, GIPC1 and Dab2IP Expression to Ocular Tumorigenesis: Profiles in Retinoblastoma, Choroidal Melanoma, and the Normal Human Eye
Simple Summary Eye cancers can damage vision and, in some cases, threaten life. Retinoblastoma mainly affects children, while uveal melanoma is the most common eye cancer in adults. Doctors need better ways to judge how aggressive these tumors are and to find new treatment targets. We examined five proteins that help cells handle nutrients and signals, Megalin, Cubilin, Caveolin-1, GIPC1, and DAB2IP, in normal eye tissue, retinoblastoma, and different forms of choroidal melanoma. Using fluorescent staining, we measured the amount of each protein present, then compared our results with publicly available gene data and patient survival information. Our goal was to learn whether changes in these proteins track with tumor type and outcome. These findings may support the development of future tools for diagnosis, risk prediction, and therapy design in eye cancer.