The importance of alpha-1 antitrypsin (alpha1-AT) and neopterin serum levels in the evaluation of non-small cell lung and prostate cancer patients.
OBJECTIVE
Increased serum levels of alpha-1 antitrypsin (alpha1-AT) and neopterin were observed in many diseases including different types of cancer. The aim of this work is to determine alpha1-AT and neopterin serum levels in newly diagnosed untreated non-small cell lung and prostate cancer patients and to test their relation to cancer staging.


METHODS
Radial Immunodiffusion and ELISA methods were used to determine alpha1-AT and neopterin serum levels, consequently.


RESULTS
alpha1-AT and neopterin mean serum levels were found to be elevated in non-small-cell lung and prostate cancer patients. In non-small cell lung cancer patients alpha1-AT was 454.5+/-129.2 mg/dL (p<0.0005) and neopterin was 7.9+/-4.2 ng/mL (p<0.0005). In prostate cancer patients alpha1-AT was 462.7+/-116.9 mg/dL (p<0.0005) and neopterin was 8.1+/-3.1 ng/mL (p<0.0005). These elevated levels were significantly correlated with the stage of cancer. The mean serum level of alpha1-AT in stages I, II, III, and IV among non-small cell lung cancer patients were 305.1, 453.6, 490.3 and 616.0 mg/dL respectively, and the mean serum levels for neopterin were 4.0, 7.0, 8.1 and 14.9 ng/mL, correspondingly. The mean serum level of alpha1-AT in stages A, B, C, and D among prostate cancer patients were 342.9, 418.5, 467.8 and 593.5 mg/dL respectively and the mean serum levels for neopterin were 4.9, 6.6, 8.7 and 11.6 ng/mL, correspondingly.


CONCLUSIONS
Based on the above mentioned findings alpha1-AT and neopterin serum levels should be considered in the follow up as well as in the prognosis of cancer patients.
Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Jordan University of Science and Technology, School of Medicine, Irbid 22110, Jordan. zakawi@just.edu.jo
Zeyad J
ZJ
El-Akawi
Aymen M
AM
Abu-Awad
Abdelmonem M
AM
Sharara
Yousef
Y
Khader
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000097:blood; D002277:Carcinoma / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology*; D002289:Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging / Q000379:methods; D019798:Neopterin / Q000097:blood*; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011379:Prognosis; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology*; D000515:alpha 1-Antitrypsin / Q000097:blood*
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D000515:alpha 1-Antitrypsin; D019798:Neopterin