Suramab inhibits corneal and tumoral angiogenesis in two animal models

GALLO JE; LOPEZ E; RIZZO M; MAZZOLINI G

Amsterdam

Congreso; The 2009 Congress of the European Society of Ophthalmology (SOE); 2009

European Society of Ophthalmology

Purpose: to develope an antiangiogenic agent with longer duration and higher effect than that observed using bevacizumab (avastin) Method: A) Corneal angiogenesis. In 27 rabbits corneal neovascularization was induced by applying a Whatman filter paper disc (7mm diameter) soaked in 1M Na (OH), in the central cornea of the left eye for one minute. The eye was washed with 10ml of 0,9% NaCl. Two groups of nine animals were treated after injury with intravenous Suramab (3 mgkg of bevacizumab + 10 mgkg of suramin) and Bevacizumab (5mg/kg), respectively. The remaining group did not receive any treatment. Digital photographs were taken at days 9, 15 and 21. NV index (NVI) was calculated using the jimage program. Neovessels were quantified given a score from 0 to 4 to each quadrant according to the centripetal growth of the longest vessel. Scores of the four quadrants were summed to obtain the NVI. Animals were sacrificed at 35 days for corneal immunohistological analysis. B) Tumoral angiogenesis. Three groups of 10 Balb/c mice were treated seven days after tumor inoculation (5 x 10 5 CT26 cells subcutaneously, colon adenocarcinoma) with intravenous bevacizumab (5 mg/kg), suramin (20 mg/kg) and suramab (5mgkg bevacizumab + 20 mgkg suramin). A forth group of 7 animals was treated with intravenous saline solution. Tumoral volume was measured three times a week. Animals were euthanized 35 days after inoculation. Results: NVI was significantly inferior in suramab animals than in control and bevacizumab groups at 35 days (p<0.05). Quantification of neoendothelial cells in the corneal stroma was inferior in suramab animals (one cell/area) compared with controls (8) and bevacizumab treated animals (5). Tumoral volume was only found significantly lower in animals with suramab compared to controls. Highest survival rate was seen in suramab mice. Conclusion: The use of suramab to inhibit neovascularization seems to be promising. Further studies should be done