Cancer-associated retinopathy: update on pathogenesis and therapy

Abstract

Paraneoplastic retinopathies comprise a diverse group of immune-mediated conditions affecting the eye. Cancer-associated retinopathy (CAR) typically has a sudden onset of severe visual loss and an ominous association with an occult malignancy. CAR is one of the best studied and better understood conditions in the multifarious group of autoimmune retinopathies. Recent developments have correlated the disease presentation, course, and therapeutic response to the underlying immune mediators and the inciting antigens. Signaling involving cytotoxic T-lymphocytes antigen 4 (CTLA-4) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) receptor-1 appears to play a role in the pathogenesis and may offer novel avenues for therapeutic intervention in CAR. Future developments in rapid identification and longitudinal quantification of antibody levels would enable individualized management in these patients. The goal of this review is to analyze the clinical features of diagnosis and management of retinopathy in the context of recent advances in the elucidation of CAR pathogenesis.