Combinatory inhibition of VEGF and FGF2 is superior to solitary VEGF inhibition in an in vitro model of RPE-induced angiogenesis.

Background: Choroidal neovascularisation (CNV) as a feature of exudative age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is partially regulated by retinal pigment epithelium (RPE). In this study, the effect of combinatory anti-angiogenic treatment was evaluated using a novel in vitro assay of RPE-induced angiogenesis.

Methods: RPE isolated from surgically excised CNV-membranes (CNV-RPE) was used to stimulate sprouting of endothelial cell (EC) spheroids in a 3D collagen matrix.