The significance of neopterin determination as a tumour marker in ovarian cancer.

: The neopterin level of 164 urine samples of ovarian cancer patients was determined by high pressure liquid chromatography. Parallelly, the serum levels of CA 125, CEA and of lipid bound sialic acid were also determined. A good correlation was found both with CA 125 and with lipid-bound sialic acid. There was a closer correlation with the latter both in the patients showing remission and in the active tumour carriers. In patients with negative tumour markers (TM) in the sera examined, a tumour-free state was confirmed in 87.5% by neopterin determinations. Accordingly, authors recommend neopterin determination in patients who face a critical decision.