Therapeutic efficacy of axitinib as anti-angiogenesis and nivolumab as immunotherapy on DMBA induced hamster buccal pouch carcinoma utilizing vascular endothelial growth factor

Purpose: This study aimed to determine the therapeutic efficacy of axitinib as anti-angiogenesis and nivolumab as immunotherapy on 7,12-dimethylbenz (a) anthracene (DMBA) induced hamster buccal pouch (HBP) carcinoma visualized by immunohistochemistry.Material and methods: Fifty Syrian male hamsters were classified into five equal groups (s) (G(s)) of ten each. GI: The animals act as negative controls. The right pouches of animals in other groups were painted three times a week for 14 week (s) with DMBA. GII: No additional treatment.in GIII were injected intraperitoneally (IP) with nivolumab (200 μL on days 7, 10, and 13), in GIV were given axitinib by oral gavage at a dose as a suspension at 5 mL/kg orally twice daily for 4 weeks, in GV were received a combination of nivolumab and axitinib with doses and administration method similar to those introduced in single treatments. After termination of the experiment, gross observations were recorded, then, the animals were euthanized, all pouches were surgically excised, fixed and processed for hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) stain examination, immunohistochemical (IHC) staining utilizing vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) as angiogenic marker. Results: the results revealed some variability across the medicated groups contrasted to GII. VEGF IHC revealed highly significant difference between GI & GII, GII& GV, GV & GIII and GV & GIV (p value < 0.001). Moreover, there was highly significant difference between GIII and GIV (p value < 0.001). Conclusion:. Combinatorial effect of axitinib-nivolumab significantly inhibits tumor progression and induces apoptosis in DMBA induced HBP carcinoma.