Local ocular safety of the subconjunctival injection of cetuximab in rabbits

BMC Ophthalmol. 2023 Apr 13;23(1):155. doi: 10.1186/s12886-023-02893-6.

Abstract

Background: To evaluate the safety of different doses of subconjunctival cetuximab in rabbits.

Methods: After general anesthesia rabbits received a subconjunctival injection of 2.5 mg in 0.5 ml, 5 mg in 1 ml, and 10 mg in 2 ml of cetuximab in their right eyes (two rabbits in each group). A similar volume of normal saline solution was injected subconjunctivally in the left eyes. The histopathologic changes were evaluated after enucleation with the aid of H&E staining.

Results: No significant difference were observed between the treated and control eyes in terms of conjunctival inflammation, goblet cell density, or limbal blood vessel density for all administered doses of cetuximab.

Conclusion: Subconjunctival injection of cetuximab with the administrated doses in rabbit eyes are safe.

Keywords: Cetuximab; Intraepithelial neoplasia; Ocular surface squamous neoplasia.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Cetuximab / adverse effects
  • Conjunctiva*
  • Injections
  • Rabbits

Substances

  • Cetuximab