Prophylactic Intravitreal Bevacizumab After Plaque Radiotherapy for Uveal Melanoma: Analysis of Visual Acuity, Tumor Response, and Radiation Complications in 1131 Eyes Based on Patient Age

The aim of this study was to determine the impact of age on radiation complications after plaque radiotherapy and prophylactic intravitreal bevacizumab for uveal melanoma. DESIGN: Retrospective cohort study. METHODS: Retrospective single-center study of plaque-irradiated uveal melanoma with prophylactic intravitreal bevacizumab at 4-month intervals from July 2000 to January 2018. RESULTS: Of 1131 eyes in 1131 patients, age was <50 years (n = 231), 50 to 70 years (n = 657), or >70 years (n = 243). Comparison by age category (<50 vs 50–70 vs >70 years) revealed the oldest group presenting with greatest tumor basal diameter (11.3 vs 11.3 vs 12.1 mm, P = 0.03) and worst visual acuity (20/40 vs 20/40 vs 20/50, P = 0.02). After plaque (mean follow-up 40 vs 42 vs 32 months, P < 0.001), radiation complications were most common in the youngest age group, including maculopathy (48% vs 39% vs 28%, P < 0.001), extramacular retinopathy (30% vs 25% vs 16%, P = 0.002), and papillopathy (21% vs 18% vs 12%, P = 0.03). The youngest age group had the highest Kaplan-Meier estimated 48-month cumulative probability for radiation maculopathy (62% vs 46% vs 47%, P = 0.001), extramacular retinopathy (36% vs 34% vs 29%, P = 0.03), and papillopathy (29% vs 26% vs 22%, P = 0.13). On subanalysis, the youngest age group had increased 48-month risk of developing radiation maculopathy when compared with the middle [hazard ratio (HR) = 1.5, P = 0.001] and older (HR = 1.6, P = 0.005) age groups and increased 48-month risk of developing extramacular radiation retinopathy compared with the older age group (HR = 1.5, P = 0.04). CONCLUSIONS: After plaque radiotherapy for uveal melanoma and prophylactic intravitreal bevacizumab at 4-month intervals, patients younger than 50 years old have an increased 48-month risk of radiation maculopathy.