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.
El-Akawi
Zeyad J
ZJ
Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Jordan University of Science and Technology, School of Medicine, Irbid 22110, Jordan. zakawi@just.edu.jo
Abu-Awad
Aymen M
AM
Sharara
Abdelmonem M
AM
Khader
Yousef
Y
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