Inhibition of Experimental Corneal Neovascularization by Bevacizumab (Avastin)

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Inhibition of Experimental Corneal
Neovascularization by Bevacizumab (Avastin)
Yonca A. Akova, MD Veysi Öner, MD Cem
Küçükerdönmez, MD

• Baskent University, School of Medicine Department
  of Ophthalmology, Ankara Turkey

The authors acknowledge no financial interest in
the subject matter of this presentation
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Purpose

• To evaluate and compare the inhibitory effects
  of topical high dose, low-dose and
  subconjunctival bevacizumab (Avastin, Genentech
  Inc., San Francisco, Ca, USA) on corneal
  vascularization in a rat model

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Methods

• Corneas of 20 rats (Sprague-Dawley, male) were
  chemically cauterized with silver nitrate sticks
  in order to induce neovascularization
• Animals were divided in four groups

• Group 1 Control group that received only topical
  artificial tear twice daily
• Grup 2 Subconjunctival injection group that
  received 0.05 ml (1.25mg) of bevacizumab on day
  1, 4 and 7
• Group 3 Low-dose topical bevacizumab (4 mg/ml)
  group that received twice daily
• Group 4 High-dose topical bevacizumab (12.5
  mg/ml) group that received twice daily

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Methods

• Digital photographs of the corneas were taken and
  analyzed using an image analysis software
  (Pixcavator Image Analyzer, Intelligent
  Perception,WV, USA)
• On day 10, all animals were sacrificed and the
  eyes were enucleated
• Corneas were excised and examined
  histopathologically

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Results
Control group Group 2 Group 3 Group 4
Mean percentage of neovascularized corneal area () 63.32 13.10 30.22 15.73 26.76 10.23 25.52 12.45
p value lt 0.01 lt 0.01 lt 0.01
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Topical high-dose bevacizumab group (12.5 mg/ml)
Control group
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Control group
Topical low-dose bevacizumab group (4 mg/ml)
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Subconjunctival bevacizumab group (1.25mg/0,05ml)
Control group
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Results

• In histological examination of the excised
  corneas, treated eyes showed significantly less
  neovascular areas and number of vessels in group
  2,3 and 4 than the control group
• The differences between control group and
  treatment groups were found to be statistically
  significant (p lt 0.05 for all)
• Bevacizumab is able to inhibit corneal
  angiogenesis, without any difference of this
  effect with
• Changing the route of administration
  (subconjunctival or topical)
• Increasing the dosage (4mg/ml or 12.5mg/ml for
  topical form)

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Topical low-dose bevacizumab group
Control group
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Discussion

• Both topical and subconjunctival application of
  bevacizumab reduces experimental corneal
  vascularization significantly compared to the
  control group
• Clinical use of bevacizumab may have an
  additional effect in the treatment for corneal
  neovascularization

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NAME Yonca Aydin Akova, M.D. TITLE Professor in
Ophthalmology DATE AND PLACE OF BIRTH October
21, 1960, Turkey 1983 Doctor of Medicine,
Istanbul University, School of Medicine 1990
Istanbul University, School of Medicine,
Department of Ophthalmology 2000 Professor of
Ophthalmology, Baskent University, School of
Medicine, Department of Ophthalmology, Ankara,
Turkey 2002 Chairperson, Baskent University,
School of Medicine, Department of Ophthalmology,
Ankara, Turkey
NAME Cem Küçükerdönmez, M.D. TITLE Fellow in
Ophthalmology DATE AND PLACE OF BIRTH October
9, 1975, Turkey 1999 Doctor of Medicine,
Hacettepe University, School of Medicine 2003
Baskent University, School of Medicine,
Department of Ophthalmology
NAME, Veysi Öner, M.D. TITLE Resident in
Ophthalmology DATE AND PLACE OF BIRTH March 01,
1979, Turkey 2002 Doctor of Medicine, Hacettepe
University, School of Medicine 2003-2008
Resident, Baskent University, School of Medicine,
Department of Ophthalmology, Ankara, Turkey