title: Inhibition of corneal neovascularization by subconjunctival and topical bevacizumab and sunitinib in a rabbit model.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To compare the effects of subconjunctival injection and topical application of bevacizumab and sunitinib on experimentally induced corneal neovascularization (CNV).
  
  
  METHODS
  CNV was induced by sutures in the right eyes of 36 rabbits. After suture removal, the rabbits were divided into 6 groups with 6 rabbits in each group. In groups 1, 2, and 3, the eyes received a subconjunctival injection of 0.1 mL of normal saline, 2.5 mg/0.1 mL of bevacizumab, and 0.25 mg/0.1 mL of sunitinib, respectively, immediately after suture removal. A booster injection of the same agent was repeated 1 week later in each group. In groups 4, 5, and 6, the eyes received topical applications of saline, bevacizumab (5 mg/mL), and sunitinib (0.5 mg/mL), respectively. These solutions were applied twice a day for 2 weeks, starting immediately after suture removal. CNV was analyzed through biomicroscopy and through histological examination using hematoxylin and eosin and CD31 immunohistochemical staining.
  
  
  RESULTS
  On day 14, the mean percentages of areas of CNV in sunitinib-treated eyes were smaller compared with saline-treated or bevacizumab-treated eyes in both the subconjunctival (P = 0.003 and 0.032, respectively) and topical groups (P < 0.001 in both). The topical administration of sunitinib was significantly more effective than the subconjunctival injection of the same drug at 1 week (P = 0.011). Upon histological examination of samples from the topical group, sunitinib-treated eyes showed lower vascularity than saline-treated and bevacizumab-treated eyes (P = 0.036 and 0.046, respectively).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results suggest that sunitinib is more effective than bevacizumab for the inhibition of CNV. Furthermore, topical administration of sunitinib yields better results than a subconjunctival injection of the same medication.
authors: Department of Ophthalmology, College of Medicine, Konyang University, Daejeon, Korea. kopupil@hanmail.net
authors: Byung-Yi
authors: BY
authors: Ko
authors: Young-Sung
authors: YS
authors: Kim
authors: Sung-Gook
authors: SG
authors: Baek
authors: Gun-woong
authors: GW
authors: Lee
authors: Jae-Min
authors: JM
authors: Kim
authors: Woo-Sean
authors: WS
authors: Jean
authors: Nam-Seob
authors: NS
authors: Lee
authors: Jaeku
authors: J
authors: Kang
mesh_terms: D000287:Administration, Topical; D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000818:Animals; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000068258:Bevacizumab; D003228:Conjunctiva / Q000187:drug effects; D016510:Corneal Neovascularization / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005260:Female; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D007211:Indoles / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D019408:Platelet Endothelial Cell Adhesion Molecule-1 / Q000378:metabolism; D011758:Pyrroles / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011817:Rabbits; D000077210:Sunitinib; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors
chemical_list: D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D007211:Indoles; D019408:Platelet Endothelial Cell Adhesion Molecule-1; D011758:Pyrroles; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D000068258:Bevacizumab; D000077210:Sunitinib