title: Intravitreal bevacizumab in the treatment of vasoproliferative retinal tumours.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the efficacy of intravitreal bevacizumab in the treatment of retinal vasoproliferative tumours (VPT).
  
  
  METHODS
  Six eyes of 6 patients with VPT who received intravitreal bevacizumab were retrospectively reviewed. All patients received between one and three injections of intravitreal bevacizumab depending upon response to treatment. Best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), tumour size, and presence of co-pathology or sequelae were noted pre- and postoperatively and then analysed. Subsequent retreatments were performed in patients with recurrent or persistent VPT according to the ophthalmologist's discretion. Retreatments included photodynamic therapy with verteporfin, ruthenium-106 plaque brachytherapy, or endoresection of tumour.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean follow-up duration was 33.3 months (range 10-66 months). At baseline, the mean logMAR BCVA was 1.45 (Snellen equivalent of 6/165); range 0.10-1.90 (6/8-CF). Following bevacizumab treatment the mean logMAR BCVA was 0.98 (Snellen equivalent of 6/57); range 0.5-1.9 (Snellen equivalent of 6/19 to CF). Therefore, there was no statistically significant change in visual acuity. The mean tumour thickness reduced from 2.4 to 2.1 mm following treatment with bevacizumab. However, this did not reach the statistical significance of P<0.05. Despite the visual improvement following bevacizumab therapy, five out of six patients had recurrence of tumour activity during the follow-up period and required further intervention in order to achieve sustained regression.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Intravitreal bevacizumab appeared to result in temporary reduction of tumour thickness in 3 out of 6 VPT patients. However, neither the reduction in tumour thickness nor the change in visual acuity were statistically significant and intravitreal bevacizumab monotherapy had limited effectiveness in causing long-term regression of the lesions. Additional therapy was indicated in five out of six patients to establish long-term regression. The efficacy of bevacizumab as an adjunct is as yet undetermined and further studies are needed. Presently, we recommend other treatment modalities in the long-term management of VPTs.
authors.affiliation: St Paul's Eye Unit, Royal Liverpool University Hospital, Liverpool, UK.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Rogers
authors.affiliation: Liverpool Ocular Oncology Centre, Royal Liverpool University Hospital, Liverpool, UK.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Damato
authors.affiliation: St Paul's Eye Unit, Royal Liverpool University Hospital, Liverpool, UK.
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Kumar
authors.affiliation: 1] St Paul's Eye Unit, Royal Liverpool University Hospital, Liverpool, UK [2] Liverpool Ocular Oncology Centre, Royal Liverpool University Hospital, Liverpool, UK.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Heimann
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000068258:Bevacizumab; D001918:Brachytherapy; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D058449:Intravitreal Injections; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009383:Neoplasms, Vascular Tissue / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D013508:Ophthalmologic Surgical Procedures; D010778:Photochemotherapy; D019572:Retinal Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D019233:Retreatment; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014792:Visual Acuity; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D000068258:Bevacizumab