The joint International Society of Ocular Oncology and NSW RANZCO scientific meetings was held in Sydney last week.

This was the first time the meeting has been held in Australia. Besides an emphasis on eye tumours, there was a major emphasis of the meeting placed on cutaneous melanoma. We heard from a number of leading Australian researchers and clinicians who deal in the area of cutaneous melanoma outlining the research advances in the treatment of this condition. The prognosis for metastatic cutaneous melanoma has improved significantly with the use of immunotherapy. As well, the leading ocular oncologists from around the world were present at the meeting and we heard from them around a range of ocular tumours including retinoblastoma, ocular melanoma and lid and conjunctival melanoma. Like cutaneous melanoma, a lot of research has gone in to identifying the various cell mutations in ocular melanoma and various targeted therapies are beginning to be developed.

Prof Sullivan was an invited speaker to and presented on “Clinical aspects of Orbital lymphoma” at the pathology workshop day. He was also on panel reviewing “Margin control for periocular skin cancer excision” and participated in the inaugural Film Festival with Orbital Surgical Approach videos. On the final day of the ISOO meeting he provided an update on “Orbital tumours, looking towards targeted therapy”

Dr Bill Glasson and Dr Sunil Warrier who head up the Queensland Ocular Oncology Service chaired a series of sessions around diagnosis and new treatments for metastatic choroidal melanoma.

The area of ocular and cutaneous melanoma has reached a phase where we can hopefully offer patients better outcomes for the treatment of primary and metastatic melanoma in the eye and the skin.