[Liberation of neopterin after lung resecting interventions with and without bronchial carcinoma]

Neopterin has been suggested as a marker for the activation of macrophages, as indicated in several malignant tumors. We therefore studied 63 patients undergoing thoracic surgery, including lung tissue resection. These patients were prospectively monitored regarding the release of neopterin and other mediators of cellular immune reaction (PMN-elastase, CRP, sIL-2-R, PGE2). Our study revealed that surgical interventions in lung adenocarcinomas resulted in a marked (P < or = 0.01) and long-lasting (5 days) release of neopterin and sIL-2-R postoperatively. 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 lung, on the basis of our results we conclude that the carcinoma per se obviously induces a distinct immune reaction. This, however, may be caused by surgical manipulation of the tumor during tissue resection. No prognostic value has been found so far for the release of neopterin regarding survival and/or recurrence of tumor.