Evaluation of low dose bevacizumab on adhesion formation and vascular endothelial growth factor expression in rats
Alper Akcan1, Hülya Akgün2, Hızır Akyıldız1, Namık Yılmaz1, Can Küçük1, Engin Ok1, Erdoğan Sözüer1
1Erciyes Üniversitesi Tıp Fakültesi Genel Cerrahi AD, KAYSERİ
2Erciyes Üniversitesi Tıp Fakültesi Patoloji AD, KAYSERİ
Abstract
Purpose: To investigate the effects of bevacizumab experimentally on adhesion formation and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) expression in rats.
Materials and Methods: Rats were divided into three groups as sham, control and study groups, each group including 10 rats. In the sham group only laparotomy was performed. Post laparotomy, in both study and control groups, left lower parietal periton was abraded and serosal defects formed on caecum, ileum and right corn of uterus. Following peritoneal abrasions, we applied bevacizumab solution (1 mg/kg) to the study group intravenously, and the same volume of normal saline to the control group in the same manner. We performed relaparotomy to all groups on the 15th day to score and evaluate the adhesion formation. We also took samples from adhesion areas in all three groups for VEGF staining.
Results: Adhesion formation and VEGF staining was significantly higher in the control group than in sham and bevacizumab groups (p<0,05). Adhesion formation difference was not significant however between sham and bevacizumab groups (p=0.165).
Conclusion: Bevacizumab decreases the adhesion formation in experimentally adhesion formatted rats. There is a correlation between adhesion severity and VEGF expression.
Keywords: Bevacizumab, VEGF expression, peritoneal adhesion, adhesion severity.