title: Urinary neopterin concentrations during combination therapy with cetuximab in previously treated patients with metastatic colorectal carcinoma.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Increased concentrations of neopterin, a biomarker of systemic immune response, have been reported after administration of cytokines, cytotoxic chemotherapy or external-beam radiation, but little is known about the effects of targeted-agents on neopterin.
  
  
  METHODS
  Urinary neopterin was studied in pre-treated patients with metastatic colorectal carcinoma during therapy with cetuximab, administered mostly in combination with irinotecan, 5-fluorouracil and leucovorin. Urinary neopterin was determined by high-performance liquid chromatography.
  
  
  RESULTS
  High initial urinary neopterin concentrations predicted poor prognosis. A significant correlation was observed between urinary neopterin and peripheral blood leukocyte count, hemoglobin and carcinoembryonic antigen concentrations. Urinary neopterin concentrations significantly increased during therapy only in patients with initially low neopterin concentrations.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Urinary neopterin concentrations predict prognosis in patients with metastatic colorectal carcinoma treated with cetuximab. Rising neopterin concentrations indicate an activation of systemic immune response that could be responsible for the antitumor activity of cetuximab.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oncology, Palacký University Medical School & Teaching Hospital, Olomouc, Czech Republic Department of Oncology & Radiotherapy, Charles University Medical School & Teaching Hospital, Hradec Králové, Czech Republic Fourth Department of Medicine, Charles University Medical School & Teaching Hospital, Hradec Králové, Czech Republic bohuslav.melichar@fnol.cz.
authors.forename: Bohuslav
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Melichar
authors.affiliation: Department of Oncology, Palacký University Medical School & Teaching Hospital, Olomouc, Czech Republic.
authors.forename: Hana
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kalábová
authors.affiliation: Third Department of Medicine, Charles University Medical School & Teaching Hospital, Hradec Králové, Czech Republic Department of Analytical Chemistry, Charles University School of Pharmacy, Hradec Králové, Czech Republic.
authors.forename: Lenka Kujovská
authors.initials: LK
authors.lastname: Krčmová
authors.affiliation: Department of Oncology & Radiotherapy, Charles University Medical School & Teaching Hospital, Hradec Králové, Czech Republic.
authors.forename: Sachin Vipin
authors.initials: SV
authors.lastname: Trivedi
authors.affiliation: Institute of Clinical Immunology and Allergy, Charles University Medical School & Teaching Hospital, Hradec Králové, Czech Republic.
authors.forename: Pavlína
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Králíčková
authors.affiliation: Department of Nuclear Medicine, Charles University Medical School & Teaching Hospital, Hradec Králové, Czech Republic.
authors.forename: Eva
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Malířová
authors.affiliation: Fourth Department of Medicine, Charles University Medical School & Teaching Hospital, Hradec Králové, Czech Republic.
authors.forename: Miroslav
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pecka
authors.affiliation: Department of Oncology, Palacký University Medical School & Teaching Hospital, Olomouc, Czech Republic.
authors.forename: Hana
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Študentová
authors.affiliation: Department of Oncology, Palacký University Medical School & Teaching Hospital, Olomouc, Czech Republic.
authors.forename: Michaela
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zezulová
authors.affiliation: Department of Oncology & Radiotherapy, Charles University Medical School & Teaching Hospital, Hradec Králové, Czech Republic.
authors.forename: Petra
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Holečková
authors.affiliation: Third Department of Medicine, Charles University Medical School & Teaching Hospital, Hradec Králové, Czech Republic.
authors.forename: Dagmar
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Solichová
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized / Q000187:drug effects*; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002272:Carcinoembryonic Antigen / Q000097:blood; D000068818:Cetuximab; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy* / Q000652:urine*; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis; D019798:Neopterin / Q000652:urine*; D011379:Prognosis; D019233:Retreatment; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D002272:Carcinoembryonic Antigen; D019798:Neopterin; D000068818:Cetuximab
keywords: Cetuximab; colorectal carcinoma; neopterin