The Diagnostic Role of Neopterin in Lung Cancer

The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) neopterin levels and lung cancer subtypes. Serum and BAL fluid samples were collected from lung cancer patients and control oases. BAL and serum neopterin levels were measured spectrofotometrically using the Neopterin ELISA kit. A total of 43 patients, 36 male and 7 female, who applied to our hospital were included in this cross sectional study. Thirty-two of the patients had confirmed primary lung cancer, while the 11 patients who formed the control group had benign lung diseases. The mean age in the lung cancer group was 59.8 +/- 7.9, while for the control group it was 47.6 +/- 8.2 years. The standardized BAL neopterin levels were 2.63 +/- 1.53 nmol/L in NSCLC patients, 2.09 +/- 1.02 nmol/L in SCLC patients, 2.36 +/- 0.83 nmol/L in control groups. No significant difference was found. For patients with NSCLC, no correlation could be established between serum and BAL neopterin levels and stage of disease. In conclusion the standardized BAL and serum neopterin levels were inadequate to distinguish the lung cancer from the control group.