Subconjunctival ranibizumab for squamous cell carcinoma of the conjunctiva with corneal extension
- C C Teng1,2,
- K J Chin1,
- P T Finger1,2
- 1New York Eye Cancer Centre, New York, USA
- 2New York University School of Medicine, Department of Ophthalmology, New York, USA
- Dr P T Finger, The New York Eye Cancer Centre, 115 East 61st Street, Suite 5B, New York, NY 10065, USA; pfinger{at}eyecancer.com
- Accepted 29 December 2008
We investigated if ranibizumab can inhibit neovascularisation and growth of squamous conjunctival carcinoma (SCC). The primary objective was to test the safety and tolerability of subconjunctival ranibizumab for the treatment of refractory SCC of the conjunctiva with corneal extension. Our secondary objective was to assess the efficacy and tumour response. We report the results of this phase I, open label, non-randomised, single-centre clinical trial.
Materials and methods
Four patients with biopsy-proven conjunctival squamous cell carcinoma were enrolled. All tumours extended onto the cornea with no regional lymph node or systemic involvement (T3N0M0).
Each tumour failed primary excision (n = 1), excision and cryotherapy (n = 3), and courses of both topical interferon alpha and mitomycin 0.02%.1–3 Recurrent or persistent SCC was confirmed by biopsy; each patient declined further surgical intervention and was informed of the experimental nature of …
