Incomplete response to Anti-VEGF therapy in neovascular AMD: Exploring disease mechanisms and therapeutic opportunities

• Published in: Progress in retinal and eye research Vol. 82; p. 100906
• Main Authors: Mettu, Priyatham S., Allingham, Michael J., Cousins, Scott W.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Elsevier Ltd 01.05.2021
• Subjects: Angiogenesis Inhibitors - therapeutic use; Animals; Anti-VEGF; Anti-VEGF resistance; Choroidal neovascularization; Choroidal Neovascularization - drug therapy; Humans; Intravitreal Injections; Macrophage; Mesenchymal precursor cell; Mice; Monocyte; Müller cell; Neovascular age-related macular degeneration; Neovascular remodeling; Persistent disease activity; Photoreceptor synaptic dysfunction; Suboptimal vision recovery; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; Visual Acuity; Wet Macular Degeneration; Choroidal neovascularization; Monocyte; Müller cell; Neovascular age-related macular degeneration; Persistent disease activity; Neovascular remodeling; Anti-VEGF; Suboptimal vision recovery; Anti-VEGF resistance; Photoreceptor synaptic dysfunction; Macrophage; Mesenchymal precursor cell
• ISSN: 1350-9462; 1873-1635; 1873-1635
• DOI: 10.1016/j.preteyeres.2020.100906

Intravitreal anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) drugs have revolutionized the treatment of neovascular age-related macular degeneration (NVAMD). However, many patients suffer from incomplete response to anti-VEGF therapy (IRT), which is defined as (1) persistent (plasma) fluid exudation; (2) unresolved or new hemorrhage; (3) progressive lesion fibrosis; and/or (4) suboptimal vision recovery. The first three of these collectively comprise the problem of persistent disease activity (PDA) in spite of anti-VEGF therapy. Meanwhile, the problem of suboptimal vision recovery (SVR) is defined as a failure to achieve excellent functional visual acuity of 20/40 or better in spite of sufficient anti-VEGF treatment. Thus, incomplete response to anti-VEGF therapy, and specifically PDA and SVR, represent significant clinical unmet needs. In this review, we will explore PDA and SVR in NVAMD, characterizing the clinical manifestations and exploring the pathobiology of each. We will demonstrate that PDA occurs most frequently in NVAMD patients who develop high-flow CNV lesions with arteriolarization, in contrast to patients with capillary CNV who are highly responsive to anti-VEGF therapy. We will review investigations of experimental CNV and demonstrate that both types of CNV can be modeled in mice. We will present and consider a provocative hypothesis: formation of arteriolar CNV occurs via a distinct pathobiology, termed neovascular remodeling (NVR), wherein blood-derived macrophages infiltrate the incipient CNV lesion, recruit bone marrow-derived mesenchymal precursor cells (MPCs) from the circulation, and activate MPCs to become vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) and myofibroblasts, driving the development of high-flow CNV with arteriolarization and perivascular fibrosis. In considering SVR, we will discuss the concept that limited or poor vision in spite of anti-VEGF may not be caused simply by photoreceptor degeneration but instead may be associated with photoreceptor synaptic dysfunction in the neurosensory retina overlying CNV, triggered by infiltrating blood-derived macrophages and mediated by Müller cell activation Finally, for each of PDA and SVR, we will discuss current approaches to disease management and treatment and consider novel avenues for potential future therapies. •Incomplete response to anti-VEGF therapy: significant unmet need in neovascular AMD.•Persistent disease activity (PDA) caused by macrophage-driven neovascular remodeling.•Suboptimal vision response (SVR) is caused by photoreceptor synaptic dysfunction.•Novel therapies for neovascular AMD will need to address problems of PDA and SVR.