Purpose of this research was to study how immunotherapy and bevacizumab
affected cancer stem cell(s) (CSC(s)) in induced hamsters buccal pouch (HBP) carcinoma.
Material and methods: 50 hamsters were split into 5 groups. Animals in GI were left untreated
for 19 weeks (ws), the right pouches of those belongs to (GII- GV) were painted with 7,12-
dimethylbenz (a) anthracene (DMBA), 3times a week for 14 ws, then, the following was done: GII
was left with no additional treatment for other 5 ws, whereas GIII was painted with imiquimod
once daily for other 4 ws, Those in GIV were injected intraperitoneally (IP) with bevacizumab
(10mg/kg / once daily for a week), and those in GV were painted with imiquimod similar to GIII
in addition to IP injection with bevacizumab similar to GIV. Gross observations and tumor volume
were recorded for each group. After slaughtering the animals, all right pouches were divided into
two pieces, one of which was prepared for hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) stain. The other piece
was used for western blot analysis for identification of CSCs using BMI-1stem cell marker and
VEGF) antibody. Results: Western blot examination of BMI-1 and VEGF antibodies indicated a
significantly significant (p-value < 0.001) discrepancy between GV and the subsequent; GIII and
GIV. In comparison, BMI-1 showed a non-significant variation (p-value < 0.125) between GIII
and GIV, but VEGF showed a very substantial difference (p-value < 0.001). Conclusion:
Combination of imiquimod-bevacizumab has an inhibitory effect on carcinoma cell and CSCs in
HBP SCC