title: Intraperitoneal administration of bevacizumab intraoperatively does not affect abdominal wound healing in rats.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Bevacizumab is a monoclonal antibody targeted at vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) to treat advanced colorectal cancer as well as other malignancies, but the ideal time point for its administration in patients scheduled for surgery is not well defined due to serious concerns regarding possible side effects on wound healing. Therefore, we conducted an experimental study in rats to clarify this issue.
  
  
  METHODS
  Four groups of 10 Wistar rats each underwent a 4-cm midline laparotomy and closure of the wound in 2 layers. In the treatment groups (A and B), bevacizumab (Avastin(®)) received a single dose of 5 mg/kg i.p., and an equal amount of saline was given to the control groups (C and D). Groups A and C were sacrificed on the 7th postoperative day, and groups B and D on the 14th postoperative day. Wounds were inspected by two independent observers upon sacrifice and results were recorded; wound tissues were sent for histology to assess the degree of fibrosis and measurement of tissue hydroxyproline levels. Serum levels of endothelin-1, C-reactive protein, pro-oxidant/antioxidant balance and carbonylated proteins were also determined. For statistical analysis, the Mann-Whitney U test was used.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Wound healing did not differ among groups both on the 7th and the 14th postoperative days, and there was also no significant difference regarding the degree of inflammation, fibroblast proliferation and collagen synthesis, as well as hydroxyproline and biochemical marker levels among the groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Intraperitoneal bevacizumab administered intraoperatively does not significantly affect abdominal wound healing in rats.
authors: Second Propaedeutic Department of Surgery, Hippocration Hospital, Thessaloniki, Greece.
authors: E T
authors: ET
authors: Pavlidis
authors: K D
authors: KD
authors: Ballas
authors: K
authors: K
authors: Psarras
authors: N G
authors: NG
authors: Symeonidis
authors: G
authors: G
authors: Koliakos
authors: K
authors: K
authors: Kouzi-Koliakos
authors: S F
authors: SF
authors: Rafailidis
authors: T E
authors: TE
authors: Pavlidis
authors: G N
authors: GN
authors: Marakis
authors: A K
authors: AK
authors: Sakantamis