Pteridines in the Assessment of Neoplasia

Abstract

Summary: Biological processes which inight explain the association of pteridine excretion with proliferation are still unknown. Difficulties in the analysis and the determination of naturally occurring pteridines are described. The best quantitative estimations were achieved when measurement of non-reduced forms was attempted. The performance characteristics of such a method for neppterin by high performance liquid chromatography on reversed phase are given. Enhanced proliferation and dedifferentiation in cell cultures and organisms is paralleled by excretion of unconjugated pteridines into the medium or urine. Urinary neopterin in healthy subjects and in patients with benign diseases was only significantly raised in patients with viral diseases. Howevei, an elevation of urmary neopterin occurred in a wide variety of malignant diseases. In haematologic neoplasias correlatipns of neopterin values to clinicäl features, to tumour staging, and to laboratory data were apparent. The clinicäl Utility of neopterin measurement was also demonstrated in patients with gynaecologic tumours, particularly in patients with ovarian carcinoma. In both homogenepus patient groups the neopterin assay may provide an additional aid for prognosis and for monitoring therapy. Comparison of the neopterin assay with already established tumour marker substances at least revealed no inferiority in sensitivity. The present results justify extensive investigations in prder to eväluate further the clinicäl applicäbility of the neopterin assay. Pteridine in der Diagnostik von Neoplasien

Urinary neopterin reflects clinical activity in patients with rheumatoid arthritis

“…Urinary neopterin levels observed in 417 apparently healthy individuals have been reported elsewhere (18). These levels were slightly age-and sex-dependent, probably due to differences in creatinine excretion.…”

Production of pteridines during hematopoiesis and T‐lymphocyte proliferation: Potential participation in the control of cytokine signal transmission

“…The presence of 6-hydroxymethylpterin could later be explained by the reduction of pterin-6-aldehyde present in the [14C]folates which were used for the assays (76). Increased neopterin and biopterin levels for serum and urine of patients with neoplastic diseases were reported earlier and were regarded as an indication for this type of disease (77). However, recent results indicate that the production of both these pterins is not a marker for proliferative activity of the tumor, but rather reflects the patient's immune response.…”

Neopterin as Tumour Marker Serum and Urinary Neopterin Concentrations in Malignant Diseases

“…An increase in urinary neopterin excretion rates was reported in patients who had undergone surgery between the third and the sixth day after laparotomy (13). However, in these patients neopterin determinations were performed 4 weeks after lymphadenectomy, and in only l patient could the increased urinary excretion rates be explained by an infection in the lymphadenectomy scar.…”