Anti-VEGF Anti-Fibrosis - A Comparison of Ranibizumab and Bevacizumab in vitro

Abstract

Purpose: : Anti-VEGF antibodies, ranibizumab and bevacizumab are being used to inhibit conjunctival fibrosis post trabeculectomy. Their relative toxicity on Tenon’s fibroblasts is not known. This study compared the effects of ranibizumab and bevacizumab on human Tenon’s Fibroblasts (HTF) viability in-vitro.

Methods: : Primary human Tenon’s fibroblasts were treated with ranibizumab and bevacizumab for 72 hours at a 50^th, a 10^th, a half and at the full human intravitreal dose. Fibroblast number and viability were assessed using the MTT (3-(4, 5-Dimethylthiazol-2-Yl)-2, 5-Diphenyltetrazolium Bromide) colorimetric assay.

Results: : Ranibizumab induced a greater dose dependent reduction in HTF cell numbers as compared to bevacizumab. At a 50^th of a commonly used human intravitreal dose, ranibizumab showed a 19% (SD +/- 9%) reduction in HTF number as compared to a 1% (SD +/-4%) reduction in HTF by bevacizumab at a similar dilution. At a commonly used human intravitreal dose, ranibizumab led to a 38% (SD +/-5%) reduction in fibroblast numbers as compared to a 15% (SD +/- 9%) reduction by bevazicumab at 72 hours.

Keywords: wound healing • clinical laboratory testing • apoptosis/cell death