RELEASE OF NEOPTERIN AFTER LUNG-TISSUE RE SECTION IN PATIENTS WITH AND WITHOUT LUNG-CANCER

Neopterin has been suggested as a marker for the activation of macroph ages, as indicated in several malignant tumors. We therefore studied 6 3 patients undergoing thoracic surgery, including lung tissue resectio n. These patients were prospectively monitored regarding the release o f neopterin and other mediators of cellular immune reaction (PMN-elast ase, CRP sIL-2-R, PGE(2)). Our study revealed that surgical interventi ons in lung adenocarcinomas resulted in a marked (P less than or equal to 0.01) and long-lasting (5 days) release of neopterin and sIL-2-R p ostoperatively. In contrast, the so-called inflammatory mediators (CRP , PMN-elastase) were only transiently increased. When comparing these findings in lung carcinoma with operations on benign tumors of the lun g, on the basis of our results we conclude that the carcinoma per se o bviously induces a distinct immune reaction. This, however, may be cau sed by surgical manipulation of the tumor during tissue resection. No prognostic value has been found so far for the release of neopterin re garding survival and/or recurrence of tumor.