In vitro inhibition of lens epithelial cell proliferation and migration.

Delayed opacification of the posterior capsule is the most common cause of decreased visual acuity after extracapsular cataract extraction. In humans, this has been shown to result from migration and possibly proliferation of residual lens epithelial cells onto the central posterior capsule. We studied a group of pharmacologic agents to determine their ability to inhibit lens epithelial cell proliferation and migration in vitro. A drug capable of inhibiting lens epithelial cell growth and/or migration, if free of unacceptable toxic effects on other cell populations, might be used to prevent lens capsule opacification. Anti-proliferative activity was exhibited by several agents, with 50% inhibition of growth occurring at the following concentrations: 5-fluorouracil, 30 micrograms/ml; daunomycin, 10 ng/ml; colchicine, 15 ng/ml; doxorubicin, 5 ng/ml; dexamethasone, 100 micrograms/ml; and cytosine arabinoside, 100 ng/ml. Colchicine inhibited lens epithelial cell migration by 50% at 20 ng/ml.