In vitro effects of mitomycin C on human Tenon's capsule fibroblasts & correlation with surgical outcome in glaucoma patients.

The effects of mitomycin C (MMC, 1 microgram/ml for 5 min) on growth and morphology of six MMC 'sensitive' and four MMC 'resistant' human Tenon's capsule fibroblasts grown from 10 patients who had had trabeculectomy for glaucoma were studied. The surgical outcome of trabeculectomy in these patients were evaluated at the end of 8-10 wk. Both types of fibroblasts showed increase of growth up to 7 days. MMC 'sensitive' fibroblasts degenerated and declined to insignificant numbers in 47 days. MMC 'resistant' fibroblasts after a decline in growth up to 27 days showed remarkable recovery in morphology and growth by day 37. Surgical outcome positively correlated with in vitro results of 'sensitive' fibroblasts. A few clones of MMC 'resistant' fibroblasts survived and multiplied as MMC effect had worn off.