Eye Cancer Treatment

Eye cancer includes multiple types such as retinoblastoma, uveal melanoma, and meibomian gland carcinoma, affecting individuals from infancy to old age. Retinoblastoma is more common in children, while uveal melanoma is prevalent in adults. Treatment is determined mainly by the tumor site and stage of progression. If treatment is delayed, it may not only cause blindness but also metastasize to the brain or liver, threatening life. Therefore, active treatment is critical for prolonging survival and improving quality of life.

Emerging Treatment Methods

Immune Reconstruction Cell Therapy

Immune reconstruction cell therapy, as an advanced technology, has gradually been applied in personalized precision treatment of eye cancer. By activating T cells or natural killer cells within the patient’s immune system, this method identifies and eliminates tumor cells. It is expected to play a positive role in controlling tumor growth, suppressing recurrence, and protecting normal tissues, especially for lesions difficult to remove surgically or with metastasis risk.

① Strong tumor-clearing ability: For highly malignant or recurrent eye cancer, immune cells continuously attack residual tumor tissue, improving local control rates.

② Suitable for eye-preserving treatment: Under safe conditions, it helps reduce surgical scope and preserve visual function.

③ Can be combined with other therapies to enhance efficacy: Combination with radiotherapy or cryotherapy can significantly improve local control and survival.

In practice, tumor patients undergoing surgery, radiotherapy, or chemotherapy often suffer immune impairment, increased infection risk, and slow recovery. To better support patients during treatment, improve tolerance, and enhance quality of life, phased immune reconstruction programs should be scientifically developed across different treatment cycles.

● Short-term plan: Rapidly enhance immunity through immune cell reinfusion to strengthen anti-tumor effects.

● Mid-term plan: Reduce side effects of conventional treatments, promote recovery, and ensure completion of standardized therapy.

● Long-term plan: Comprehensive enhancement of immunity through immune cell reconstruction, gut immunity restoration, elemental immunity rebuilding, and immune nutrition support, thereby improving quality of life and prolonging survival.

Conventional Treatment Methods

1. Local Radiotherapy

Radiotherapy is one of the core methods for treating eye cancer, especially for localized lesions such as uveal melanoma. Common approaches include localized radioactive isotope implantation (e.g., Iodine-125) and stereotactic radiotherapy. This method offers precise irradiation with the advantage of preserving the eyeball, suitable for patients unwilling or unable to undergo surgery. It has shorter treatment cycles and relatively less impact on vision.

2. Enucleation

For advanced eye cancer or when vision is severely compromised, enucleation (eye removal) is a necessary option, especially when the tumor involves the optic nerve or has completely destroyed ocular structures. Although the procedure has significant consequences, it plays a crucial role in controlling tumor spread and prolonging survival. Prosthetic eye implantation can be considered postoperatively for cosmetic improvement.

3. Laser Photocoagulation

For small, well-defined lesions such as early retinoblastoma or certain choroidal tumors, laser photocoagulation precisely heats and destroys abnormal tissues. This method is simple, minimally invasive, and often used as an adjunctive treatment, showing good outcomes in early-stage cases.

4. Chemotherapy

Chemotherapy is usually applied in advanced eye cancer or cases with systemic metastasis, and it can also be used as neoadjuvant therapy to reduce tumor size. In some children, intra-arterial chemotherapy delivers drugs directly into ocular vessels via catheter, enhancing local drug efficacy while reducing systemic toxicity.

5. Targeted and Gene Therapy

With the progress of precision medicine, targeted therapies for specific gene mutations in eye cancer are entering clinical practice. Some uveal melanomas carry mutations such as GNAQ and BAP1, which may be inhibited by future targeted drugs. Although still in clinical exploration, combining these with immune cell therapy could provide breakthroughs.

6. Integrative Chinese and Western Medicine

Traditional Chinese medicine may help regulate immunity, alleviate side effects, and improve quality of life in the later stages of radiotherapy or chemotherapy. For some patients, combining TCM with conventional treatments can both control tumor progression and enhance mental well-being, serving as a complementary therapeutic option.

Conclusion

Experts at United Life International Medical Center state that treatment of eye cancer requires individualized, multi-dimensional strategies. Immune reconstruction cell therapy serves as a breakthrough approach, showing potential in preserving vision, controlling tumors, and prolonging survival. Treatment should not be delayed—early intervention is essential to improve prognosis.