title: Inhibitory Effect of Topical Aflibercept on Corneal Neovascularization in Rabbits.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To examine the inhibitory effect of topical aflibercept [vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) trapR1R2] on corneal neovascularization (NV) in rabbits.
  
  
  METHODS
  Corneal NV was induced in 24 eyes of 12 rabbits. Seven days after a silk suture in the corneal stroma, the rabbits were divided into 4 groups of 6 eyes each. Two groups were treated with topical aflibercept at 2 different concentrations: 2 mg/0.5 mL (0.1%, group 1) and 2 mg/5 mL (0.01%, group 2). The other 2 groups were treated with topical bevacizumab 2.5 mg/1 mL (0.1%, group 3) and topical balanced salt solution (group 4, control). The concentration of VEGF and placental growth factor (PIGF) messenger RNA (mRNA) was measured by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The surface area of NV was significantly smaller in the treatment groups compared with that of the control group. The expression of VEGF mRNA was 0.227 in 0.1% aflibercept (group 1), 0.811 in 0.01% aflibercept (group 2), and 0.495 in 0.1% bevacizumab (group 3). There was a significant decrease in the VEGF concentration in all 3 treatment groups compared with the control group, 1.491 (P = 0.031, <0.05). In the 0.01% aflibercept group, the difference was less than that of the 0.1% aflibercept and 0.1% bevacizumab groups. There was no significant difference in the 0.1% aflibercept and 0.1% bevacizumab groups. The expression of PIGF mRNA was 0.791 in 0.1% aflibercept (group 1), 0.743 in 0.01% aflibercept (group 2), 1.194 in 0.1% bevacizumab (group 3), and 1.458 in the control group. The expression of PIGF mRNA was significantly decreased in the 0.1% aflibercept and 0.01% aflibercept groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Topical aflibercept may have an inhibitory effect on corneal NV in rabbits.
authors.affiliation: *Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Science, Seoul St Mary's Hospital, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, Korea; and †Department of Ophthalmology, St Paul's Hospital, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Yi-Ryeung
authors.initials: YR
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Sung Kun
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Chung
mesh_terms: D000287:Administration, Topical; D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000818:Animals; D000068258:Bevacizumab / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016510:Corneal Neovascularization / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D009883:Ophthalmic Solutions; D000072483:Placenta Growth Factor; D011257:Pregnancy Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics; D011817:Rabbits; D040262:Receptors, Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors; D009883:Ophthalmic Solutions; D011257:Pregnancy Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D000072483:Placenta Growth Factor; C533178:aflibercept; D000068258:Bevacizumab; D040262:Receptors, Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor