Elevated levels of oncopterin, N2-(3-aminopropyl)biopterin, a new pterin compound, in urine from patients with solid and blood cancers.

The concentrations of oncopterin, N2-(3-aminopropyl)biopterin, a new pterin compound, were determined in urine from various cancer patients by HPLC on a reverse-phase or ion-exchange column. The concentration of oncopterin increased after acid hydrolysis, indicating that it exists as an amide in urine. The oncopterin concentrations were very low in the urine of healthy controls. Among the urine samples examined, those from cases of solid cancers, e.g., hepatomas, prostatic cancer and bladder cancer, exhibited very high levels; and those from cases of blood cancers, e.g., myelomas, acute myelocytic leukemia, and lymphomas, showed moderate increases. Oncopterin may thus be a new biochemical marker of some types of cancer.