1. AUBURN UVEAL
MELANOMA POPULATION
John O. Mason, III, M.D.
Retina Consultants of Alabama
UAB Department of Ophthalmology
Director of Retina Service & Ocular Oncology
Fred Kam, M.D.
Auburn University
Medical Director

2. INCLUSION CRITERIA
• January 1, 1980 to December 31, 2018
• Documented Uveal Melanoma
• Student or Professor at Auburn
• Lived in Auburn

3. ASPECTS TO THE STUDY
• Participation of Patients
• Geospatial Evaluation
• Environmental Evaluation
• Genetics Evaluation
• Funding

4. RESPONSIBILITIES WHICH MAY OVERLAP
Dr. Kam:
• Discussions with Geospatial Experts
• Discussions with Alabama Department of Public Health
Dr. Mason:
• Discussions with Genetic Experts in Uveal Melanoma
• Confirmation and Evaluation of All Patients for Inclusion
Into the Study
• Spreadsheet Details Concerning Each Patient

5. AUBURN UVEAL MELANOMA POPULATION
• 33 Total Possible Candidates for Inclusion (4 Deceased)
• 30 Located and Have Agreed to Participate (3 Deceased and
Family Not Reached)
• All 29 Living Participants Will Participate As Well As Parents
of 1 Deceased Patient

6. PARTICIPANTS
• 30 Total
• 23/30 Students or Faculty
• 7/30 Lived in Auburn and Spent Time on Campus

7. DEMOGRAPHICS OF PARTICIPANTS
• 14 Females / 16 Males
• Mean Age at Diagnosis 43 (Range 30 to 71)
• Most Common Dates at Auburn – 1987 to 1992
• 24/30 Were at Auburn from 1983 to 1998

8. DEMOGRAPHICS AND TREATMENT OF
PARTICIPANTS
• Patients Were Treated by Multiple Ocular Oncologists, The
Most Frequent Being Carol Shields, MD and John Mason, MD
• Metastatic Disease Developed in 6/30
• 8/30 Had Their Eye Removed
• 22/30 Were Treated by Radiation (Plaque or Proton Beam)
• Patients are Currently Living Throughout the United States

9. NEXT STEPS
• Obtain Additional Funding
• Develop Protocol for Geospatial Testing
• Environmental Testing Would Follow Geospatial Testing
• Develop Protocol for Genetic Testing of Blood and Tissue
Samples
• Obtain Necessary IRB Approval and Consents from Patients

10. WE WILL TRY TO FIND
ANSWERS…THANK YOU!!!