[Bevacizumab (Avastin) inhibits lung cancer-induced pulmonary microvascular angiogenesis]

To study the effect of bevacizumab (Avastin) on pulmonary microvascular angiogenesis induced by lung cancer.

The effects of Avastin on cell growth, cell cycle and apoptosis of lung microvascular endothelial cells were assayed by flow cytometry.

Avastin inhibited the growth of lung microvascular endothelial cells and induced increase of cell apoptosis index in a concentration-dependent manner. With the increment of Avastin concentration from 25 to 100 microg/ml, avascular area increased from 0.944-/+0.073 cm square to 5.189-/+0.192 cm square, and the cell apoptosis index increased from 32.5%-/+1.5% to 39.25-/+1.6%.

Avastin can inhibit the growth and induce apoptosis of lung microvascular endothelial cells in three-dimensional culture, possibly in association with cell cycle arrest in G(0/1) phase.