The effect of bevacizumab on tumour growth of malignant fibrous histiocytoma in an animal model.

BACKGROUND Bevacizumab is a specific inhibitor of angiogenesis and a neutralising antibody against vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). The effect of bevacizumab was evaluated on malignant fibrous histiocytoma (MFH) in vivo using an animal model. MATERIALS AND METHODS MFH cell line, NaraH, was implanted to athymic nude mice which were randomly divided into a treatment and a control group. The change in body weight and tumour volume were evaluated and immunohistochemical analysis was performed of microvessel density (MVD) and VEGF expression in the tumour tissue. RESULTS Bevacizumab significantly induced inhibition of tumour growth, reducing tumour volume to 48% at the end of experiment. Intratumoural MVD was significantly decreased in the bevacizumab treatment group compared to the control group. A positive correlation was found between tumour volume and MVD. CONCLUSION Bevacizumab suppressed MFH tumour growth by inhibiting tumoural angiogenesis. The current study suggests that bevacizumab may be a novel therapeutic agent for MFH.