title: Serum neopterin as a prognostic indicator in patients with gastric carcinoma.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the possible association between serum neopterin level and clinical and laboratory findings and their prognostic value of patients with gastric carcinoma.
  
  
  METHODS
  Serum samples were collected from patients (n = 38) and normal volunteers (n = 39) and stored at -80 degrees C until analyzed. Neopterin, C-reactive protein (CRP), and IL-6 concentration were measured by ELISA. The clinicopathological parameters were determined by reviewing both medical charts and pathological records.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Mean neopterin levels were 15.26 +/- 11.46 nmol/L in patients with gastric carcinoma and 9.87 +/- 2.90 nmol/L in the control group. Serum neopterin concentrations were significantly higher in patients with gastric carcinoma than in the control group. The number of patients with elevated neopterin level was significantly correlated with stage, gastric wall involvement, the number of metastatic lymph nodes, and the level of serum CRP. The mean neopterin concentrations were significantly elevated in patients older than 60 years, in the presence of venous invasion and increased metastatic lymph node number, and in patients with elevated CRP levels. Neopterin level was also correlated with overall survival as an independent prognostic indoicator.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Serum neopterin levels were elevated in patients with advanced gastric cancer and correlated with prognostic parameters and overall survival. Moreover, neopterin measured at the time of diagnosis can be used to predict the survival of gastric carcinoma.
authors.affiliation: Department of General Surgery, Inonu University, Malatya, Turkey.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Unal
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Kocer
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Altun
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Surmeli
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Aksaray
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Balci
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Ozlu
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Cengiz
mesh_terms: D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology; D002288:Adenocarcinoma, Mucinous / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000378:metabolism; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D053208:Kaplan-Meier Estimate; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D019798:Neopterin / Q000097:blood*; D011379:Prognosis; D013274:Stomach Neoplasms / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D019798:Neopterin; D002097:C-Reactive Protein