Neopterin as a marker for activated cell-mediated immunity: application in malignant disease.
A review is presented on studies concerning neopterin determination in patients with malignant neoplastic diseases. Neopterin is produced chiefly by human macrophages through their activation by T-cell-derived interferon gamma. In vivo, determinationof neopterin in various body fluids provides a convenient way to monitor early events that are involved in cell-mediated immune responses. In malignant neoplasia, elevation of neopterin concentrations in body fluids depends on tumor type. Within a given type of tumor, more advanced stages are generally associated with higher levels than early disease. In a variety of different tumor types and sites, a significantly poorer prognosis was associated with high pretherapeutic neopterin concentrations. This predictive value is independent of several possible confounders such as stage or therapy. During follow-up malignant disease, neopterin elevations may predict deterioration of the clinical status of the patients and thereby provide a valuable additional marker for monitoring such patients. Possible immunobiological implications of the results are discussed.
Reibnegger
G
G
Institute for Medical Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Innsbruck, Austria.
Fuchs
D
D
Fuith
L C
LC
Hausen
A
A
Werner
E R
ER
Werner-Felmayer
G
G
Wachter
H
H
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000032:analysis*; D001708:Biopterins / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000032:analysis; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007111:Immunity, Cellular / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000737:chemistry / Q000276:immunology*; D019798:Neopterin
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D001708:Biopterins; D019798:Neopterin