title: Comparative analysis of hyaluronan's affinity for antivascular endothelial growth factor agents.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Differences in the efficacy of bevacizumab, an antivascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) agent, against retinopathy with neovascularization when injected into the vitreous cavity of vitrectomized and nonvitrectomized eyes suggests the involvement of hyaluronan, a major component of the vitreous body. This study aimed to compare the affinities of hyaluronan for anti-VEGF agents in vitro.
  
  
  METHODS
  We examined the affinities of hyaluronan for 3 anti-VEGF agents (bevacizumab, pegaptanib and ranibizumab). Tritium [(3)H]-labeled hyaluronan was incubated separately with each anti-VEGF agent. The ratio of bound and unbound hyaluronan measured using solid and liquid phase methods was calculated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Hyaluronan demonstrated a significantly greater affinity for bevacizumab than for pegaptanib or ranibizumab.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The absence or presence of hyaluronan may be associated with the clinical efficacy of bevacizumab injected into the vitreous cavity due to the affinity of hyaluronan for bevacizumab.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Aichi Medical University, Nagakute, Japan.
authors.forename: Iichiro
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Sugita
authors.forename: Masahiko
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Yoneda
authors.forename: Masayoshi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Iwaki
authors.forename: Masahiro
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zako
mesh_terms: D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors / Q000737:chemistry*; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized / Q000737:chemistry*; D052157:Aptamers, Nucleotide / Q000737:chemistry*; D000068258:Bevacizumab; D006820:Hyaluronic Acid / Q000737:chemistry*; D000069579:Ranibizumab; D014316:Tritium; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors*
chemical_list: D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D052157:Aptamers, Nucleotide; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D014316:Tritium; C495058:pegaptanib; D000068258:Bevacizumab; D006820:Hyaluronic Acid; D000069579:Ranibizumab