Mitomycin is an alkylating agent with an anti-proliferative effect. It inhibits DNA synthesis of cells exhibiting highest rate of mitosis.

Mitomycin is isolated from soil bacterium streptomyces caesopitosus. It has got 3 types mitomycin A, mitomycin B and mitomycin C which are produced by Streptomyces caesopitosus under different conditions. Therefore, this medication is called as mitomycin C (MMC) to differentiate it from others.¹Mitomycin C inhibits proliferation of fibroblasts, suppresses vascular ingrowths and is much more potent than 5 – fluorouracil (5 FU)². It is dispensed in blue violet crystalline powder and it dissolves in water. MMC is stable for 2 weeks when refrigerated at 2 – 8 degrees centigrade after the powder is reconstituted for topical use. Because of its anti-fibroblastic activity, MMC is used in various ocular surgical procedures. The optimal dose of MMC is not known but is usually used in concentration of 0.1 mg/ml (0.01%) to 0.5 mg/ml (0.05%) in different clinical setups.

PTERYGIUM SURGERY

Pterygium is a fibro-vascular growth which extends across the limbus onto the cornea. It is a common corneal disorder witnessed in countries with hot climate.³ Once grown over cornea, apart from the cosmetic blemish, it induces irregular astigmatism. If it’s growth involves the visual axis, it can also severely curtail the vision.

Surgical removal of the pterygium is the preferred treatment but the rate ofrecurrent pterygium is very high at 30% – 50% after simple excision is performed^4,5. Kunitomo and Mori⁶ were the first workers suggesting the adjunct use of MMC in patients undergoing surgical excision. In 1988, Hayasaka et al⁷ published their work on the instillation of lower dose of MMC after surgery in the treatment of primary pterygium. They found recurrence rate of 7% in group of patients treated with 0.2 mg/ml MMC drops used for 1 week duration. The recurrence rate was 11% with the use of 0.4 mg MMC drops and 32% recurrence was noted in their cohort of patients undergoing simple surgical excision. Singh and co-workers⁸ reported similar favourable results of non-recurrence in their patients using 1 mg/ml MMC drops postoperatively. Mahar and Nwokora⁹ in their published work concluded no recurrence of pterygium when MMC 0.4 mg/ml drops were used postoperatively for 2 weeks duration.

Lack of optimal dosage and variable duration of instillation of MMC has led to some serious complications. Rubenfeld¹⁰ described group of patients developing secondary glaucoma, corneal edema, corectopia, corneal perforation, Iritis and scleral calcification when MMC was used in higher concentration and for long duration of upto 4 weeks.

This treatment modality was followed by many clinicians to use MMC intra-operatively in a single dose after surgical excision. This has not only successfully reduced recurrence of Pterygium but showed minimal complications.

Cardillo and colleagues¹¹ in a prospective study treated 227 patients with primary Pterygia. After surgical excision these patients were divided in 5 groups: group 1 received single intra-operative application of 0.2 mg/ml MMC for 3 minutes; group 2 received a single intra-operative application of 0.4 mg/ml MMC for 3 minutes; group 3 received MMC eye drops 0.2 mg/ml 3 times a day for 7 days; group 4 received 0.4 mg/ml MMC drops 3 times a day for 2 weeks and group 5 acted as control. At mean follow up of 28 months all groups receiving MMC in single application or drops showed around 5% recurrence rate in comparison to control group with recurrence rate of 29.27%. This study indicated that there was no difference in recurrence between intra-operative application of MMC or drops and also no statistically difference was found in groups receiving 0.2 mg/ml or 0.4 mg/ml MMC for 3 minutes. Since thenmultiple studies have followed with intra-operative use of MMC in concentration of 0.2 mg/ml or 0.4 mg/ml with application time of 3 – 5 minutes^12,13,14.

Several workers have also used 0.1 ml of MMC in concentration of 0.2 mg/ml injected under pterygium head and then removing pterygium with simple excision after 4 weeks. The success rate of this approach has been comparable to the topical application of MMC in reducing the recurrence rate of pterygium^15,16.

TRABECULECTOMY

The aim of drainage surgery for glaucoma like trabeculectomy is to create an outflow channel for aqueous humor leading into subconjunctival space. The common cause of failure of this drainage area is to get occluded due to fibrosis at conjunctival – scleral interface and intrasclerally. The various risk factors for the fibrosis resulting in drainage failure are long term antiglaucoma medication, patients under 50 years of age and various uveitic, rubeotic and pseudophakic glaucomas. The scarring process occurs due to proliferation of fibroblasts at the site of surgical fistula¹⁷, resulting in uncontrolled intraocular pressure (IOP). Because of its anti fibroblastic activity, MMC has been used topically over sclerectomy area to maintain the drainage facility with controlled IOP.

The first use of MMC in trabeculectomy is attributed to chen¹⁸ who claimed higher success in his cohort of 59 eyes undergoing trabeculectomy in refractory glaucomas. This has been followed by numerous reports in the literature on the use of MMC in trabeculectomy in all types of glaucoma achieving higher success rate in maintaining the IOP^19–23.

Traditionally MMC soaked sponges are placed at the time of surgery under conjunctiva before or after scleral flap dissection. The average concentration of MMC is 0.1 mg/ml – 0.5 mg/ml with duration of application between 1 – 5 minutes. Afterwards MMC is washed out with copious irrigation of balanced salt solution (BSS). Some clinicians have used the sponges placed under the scleral flap and claimed higher success of IOP control.²⁴One alternative approach for using MMC is to inject it subconjunctivally over the site of bleb at the start of the surgery²⁵. Maquet and colleagues²⁶ described protocol for MMC use in glaucoma surgery. They divided 143 eyes of 124 patients in multiple groups receiving MMC in different concentrations. First group received MMC 0.1 mg/ml, second group had 0.2 mg/ml while third group of patients received 0.4 mg/ml. No significant difference were found in final mean IOP values or in postoperative complications at the end of 12 month follow-up. Pakravan and co-workers²⁷ in multicentre clinical trial randomized 80 patients in 2 groups: group 1 received Subtenon injection of 0.1 ml of 0.1 mg/ml MMC while group 2 received 0.2 mg/ml MMC soaked sponges. At the end of 1 year follow-up both groups showed success of 82.5% in controlling the IOP. They reported that, blebs tended to be more diffused, less vascularized and shallower in patients receiving MMC by subtenon injection.

The use of MMC is not without certain complications when used in higher concentration and for longer duration. Therefore, it is important to weigh the risks and benefits of MMC use in glaucoma surgery. The use of MMC can cause corneal epithelium toxicity resulting in superficial punctuate erosions and corneal abrasions. Conjunctival wound leaks are also frequently described in patients treated with MMC. The thin-walled blebs produced with MMC use are also at greater risk for developing blebitis and endophthalmitis. Hypotony and resulting maculopathy is also witnessed in patients receiving MMC during trabeculectomy²⁸.

REFRACTIVE SURGERY

Photorefractive Keratectomy (PRK) is the original surface ablation technique involving removing the epithelium of the cornea mechanically with subsequent ablation of the bowman’s layer and anterior stroma using the excimer laser. Although this technique is followed by pain and discomfort during the first 24 hours and slow visual recovery but it is the corneal haze formation which complicates the visual outcome. Corneal haze can develop frequently after treatment of high myopia (≥ 6.00 Diopters) due to ablation depth. The pathogenesis of haze formation is due to keratocytes apoptosis caused by laser and is followed by proliferation and migration of surrounding keratocytes to repopulate the stroma. Some of these keratocytes differentiate into myofibroblasts which not only are basis for corneal haze but also cause scattering of light²⁹.

Talamo was the first one using MMC in an animal model suggesting that it’s use can prevent corneal haze formation³⁰.

Mitomycin C is applied over the deepitheliazed stroma after laser ablation. It causes lower keratocytes and myofibroblasts density with reduced deposit of collagen and extracellular matrix resulting in decreased corneal haze³¹.

The optimal dose and duration of MMC is not known in PRK. But it is used in a concentration of
2 mg/ml (0.2%)–0.2 mg/ml (0.02%) with duration of application from 12 seconds to 2 minutes.

Majmudar first used MMC as a prophylactic agent in patients undergoing PRK.³² Leccisotti reported significant less haze in eyes treated with MMC 0.2 mg/ml for 45 seconds. Patients refractive error ranged from – 6.50 to – 10 diopters³³. Similarly Wallu and Campos reported better outcome for PRK with MMC than LASIK with no haze observed in eyes treated with MMC³⁴. Sigonos and colleagues advise 30 seconds application of MMC 0.2 mg/ml (0.02 %) for primary PRK and in complicated cases involving penetrating keratoplasty (PKP), radial keratotmy (RK), and re-docases 1 minute or more application of MMC is suggested³⁵. Medina and co-workers found no change in endoethelium cell count, epithelial thickness, keratocyte density and number of corneal nerve fibers with MMC use after 5 years postoperatively³⁶.

STRABISMUS SURGERY

Postoperative scarring and formation of adhesions following strabismus surgery can compromise the final outcome. The intraoperative adjunctive use of MMC has been found with encouraging results in rabbit model with reduction in formation of adhesions and scarring³⁷. Chen and colleagues³⁸ found that use of MMC in dose of 0.2 mg/ml applied for 5 minutes duration was associated with better range of passive duction at all postoperative follow-ups in patients undergoing strabismus surgery. The use of MMC is also associated with delayed adjustments after strabismus surgery³⁹.

LACRIMAL SURGERY

Dacryocystorhinostomy (DCR) is the preferred procedure in treating blockage of nasolacrimal duct with excessive lacrimation. The common cause of failure in DCR is closure of the common canaliculus and obstruction of the site of osteotomy^40,41. This occurs due to proliferation of fibrous tissue, and formation of granulation tissue. The MMC soaked sponges (0.2 mg/ml) when placed at the site of osteotomy and anastomosed flaps can slow proliferation of fibrous tissue and development of scar. Liao and co-workers treated 44 eyes undergoingDCR surgery with application of MMC 0.2 mg/ml applied to osteotomy site for 30 minutes. The non-patency rate in MMC group was 4.5% compared with 11.4% with conventional group.⁴²Rathore and colleagues placed a nasal pack soaked in 1 ml of
0.5 mg/ml (0.05%) MMC for 48 hours after endonasal DCR. Postoperatively, the nasal cavity with MMC pack had healthy nasal mucosa during the entire follow-up as compared to the control group with saline nasal pack which showed synechiae formation in 65.2% cases⁴³. Xue and co-workers conducted a meta-analysis of randomized controlled clinical trials related to adjunctive use of MMC in primary and revision external and endonasal DCR. They concluded that surgical success rate in primary and revision external DCR can be enhanced when MMC is applied at the site of osteotomy effectively but there was no significant advantage in primary endonasal DCR⁴⁴. Nair et al in their review suggest that studies should be done on innovative drug delivery methods like intraoperative injection of MMC in depot form or using silicone stents coated with MMC⁴⁵.

CONCLUSION

The use of mitomycin C is established in various ocular surgical procedures. The optimal dose and duration of application of MMC is still not known. One has therefore to weigh the risks and benefits of its use in different clinical conditions.

Financial Interest

None.

Conflict of Interest

None.

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