URINARY NEOPTERIN EXCRETION IN PATIENTS WITH SQUAMOUS CARCINOMA OF THE ORAL CAVITY

Urinary neopterin concentrations were studied in 30 patients with squa mous carcinoma or adenoid cystic carcinoma of the oral cavity. Compare d to healthy controls 19 patients (63%) had increased neopterin concen trations. There was a statistically significant correlation between ne opterin levels and tumor differentiation but no correlation of neopter in values with tumor size. Longitudinal studies will be necessary to e valuate a potential usefulness of neopterin concentrations to predict prognosis in squamous carcinomas of the oral cavity.