Urinary neopterin concentrations during radiotherapy for gynecological cancer

Abstract

Neopterin is a biomarker of host response to neoplasia. In the present study, urinary neopterin was determined during the course of (chemo)radiation in ten patients with gynecological tumors (nine patients with cervical carcinoma and one patient with carcinoma of the vulva). Baseline urinary neopterin concentrations were, generally, above the normal range. Neopterin concentrations were relatively stable during the first 5 weeks of combined (chemo)radiation. Marked peaks of neopterin concentrations reflected the emergence of complications. Neopterin could represent a useful biomarker for the assessment of the condition of the patients during this aggressive therapy.

Keywords

• cervical carcinoma
• neopterin
• radiotherapy