Topical pazopanib blocks VEGF-induced vascular leakage and neovascularization in the mouse retina but is ineffective in the rabbit.

Purpose: To test the effect of pazopanib, a tyrosine kinase inhibitor that blocks VEGF and platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) receptors and c-Kit, on vascular leakage and neovascularization (NV) in the retina.

Methods: Pazopanib was tested to determine its effect on VEGF-induced vascular permeability via measurement of [(3)H]mannitol retina to lung (RLLR) and retina to renal leakage ratios (RRLR) and in rho/VEGF mice with subretinal NV. In rabbits, the effect of intravitreal, topical, and systemic pazopanib on VEGF-induced leakage was tested by vitreous fluorophotometry.

Results: In mice, oral pazopanib (40 mg/kg twice a day [bid]) reduced RLLR (0.84 to 0.58, P = 0.0014) and RRLR (0.55 to 0.30, P = 0.0018) in VEGF-injected eyes. After intraocular injection of VEGF into both eyes, topical pazopanib (10 mg/mL three times a day [tid] for 14 days) reduced RLLR (0.85 vs. 0.56, P = 0.001), RRLR (0.44 vs. 0.28, P = 0.0075), and immunoreactive albumin in the retina compared to values in fellow eye controls. Treatment of one eye of rho/VEGF mice with 10 mg/mL, but not 5 mg/mL, pazopanib tid reduced the mean area of subretinal NV compared to that in fellow eyes (0.0055 vs. 0.0025 mm(2), P = 0.020). In rabbits, intravitreal pazopanib suppressed VEGF-induced fluorescein leakage, but topical (10 mg/mL four times a day [qid] or 12 mg/mL bid) had no significant effect. Systemic administration of pazopanib by osmotic pump with or without 10 mg/mL drops tid also failed to suppress VEGF-induced leakage.

Conclusions: Administration of pazopanib topically or systemically suppressed retinal vascular leakage in mice, but not rabbits. These data suggest differences in the blood-retinal barrier (BRB) of mice and rabbits and indicate that penetration through the outer BRB may be needed for topically administered drugs to exert effects in the retina.