Background/aims: The degree of neovascularization determines the aggressiveness of ocular hemangiomas (OH). So far, the anti-angiogenic treatments using either antagonists against vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGF-A), or endostatin, do not always lead to satisfactory therapeutic outcome.
Methods: We examined the VEGF receptor 1 (VEGFR1) levels in the OH specimen. We compared the effects of anti-PLGF, endostatin, as well as their combined treatments on the growth of OH in a mouse model, using bioluminescence imaging in living animals. We also examined vascularization by CD31 expression.
Results: We detected higher VEGFR1 levels in the OH, compared to paired normal tissue. Thus, we hypothesize that as a major ligand for VEGFR1, placental growth factor (PLGF) may also play a role in the neovascularization and tumorigenesis of OH. In an implanted OH model in mice, we found that both anti-PLGF and endostatin significantly decreased OH growth as well as vascularization, while combined treatments had a significantly more pronounced effect.
Conclusion: Our data suggest that combined anti-PLGF and endostatin may be a more effective therapy for inhibition of ocular vascularization and the tumor growth in OH.
© 2015 S. Karger AG, Basel.