Comparison decreasing effects of dovitinib and bevacizumab on neovascularization in an experi̇mental rat corneal neovascularization model

Objective: To compare the inhibitory effects of dovitinib and bevacizumab for treatment of corneal neovascularization. Material and Methods: Thirty nine adult female Sprague -Dawley rats weighing 180-250 g were used. Corneal neovascularization was induced by silver nitrate in the right eyes of each rat. After chemical burn, the animals were randomized into five groups. Group 1 did not recevie any chemical substance. Group 2 received dimethyl sulfoxide, Group 3 received bevacizumab 5 mg/ml, Group 4 received dovitinib 5 mg/ml, Group 5 received bevacizumab 5 mg/ml + dovitinib 5 mg/ml topically administered twice in a day for 14 days. On the 14th day, slit-lamp examination was performed and anterior segment photographs were taken. The corneal neovascular area was measured on photographs as the percentage of the cornea's total area using computer-imaging analysis. Corneal sections were stained with hematoxylin and eosin for histopathological examination. Results: A statistically significant decrease in the percentage of corneal neovascularization was found in all treatment groups (Group 3, Group 4 and Group 5) to comparing with control group (Group 1) (p <0.01). A statistically significant difference in the percentage of corneal neovascularization was found among Group 3, Group 4 and Group 5 (p=0,003). Percentage of corneal neovascularization of Group 4 was significantly higher than Group 3 and Group 5 (p1=0.004; p2=0.006). There was no statistically significant difference in percentage of corneal neovascularization between Group 3 and Group 5 (p=0,228). Conclusion: Dovitinib is an newly developed (phase 4) multi targeted tyrosine kinase inhibitor. Topical administration of dovitinib effectively inhibited corneal neovascularization but this effect of dovitinib were found more less than topical bevacizumab.