title: Serum levels of procollagen type I carboxyterminal extension peptide in cancer patients with bone metastases.
abstract: Serum levels of procollagen type I carboxy-terminal extension peptide (PICP) reflect the synthesis of type I collagen. As PICP is produced by osteoblasts and is not incorporated into bone matrix, serum PICP levels have been suggested as a marker of bone formation. In 37 cancer patients (21 men and 16 women; age: 72.4 +/- 8.6 (mean +/- SD) years) with bone metastases and 23 women (age: 77.3 +/- 6.64 years) as controls, the following biochemical variables were measured: serum PICP, calcium (Ca), phosphorus, alkaline phosphatase (AP) and tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP), and urinary hydroxyproline and calcium corrected for creatinine excretion. Higher serum levels of PICP were observed in cancer patients than in control (245 +/- 177 micrograms/l vs 121.7 +/- 36 micrograms/l, p < 0.01). Cancer patients also had higher AP levels than controls (704 +/- 755 U/l vs 216.5 +/- 56 U/l, p < 0.01). Abnormal PICP and AP serum concentrations (above the mean + 2SD of controls) were found in 46% and 51% of patients, respectively. Moreover, patients showed significantly lower serum calcium concentrations (p < 0.001), and higher TRAP and hydroxyproline levels although statistical significance was not reached. In the patients, PICP was correlated directly with AP (r = 0.50, p < 0.01) and TRAP (r = 0.34, p < 0.05). In conclusion, patients with bone metastases have increased bone turnover as shown by serum markers. Serum PICP may be used as an adjunctive, non-invasive index to assess bone metabolism. However, the clinical usefulness of PICP in cancer patients needs further evaluations.
authors.affiliation: IV Department of Medicine, Geriatric Institute Pio Albergo Trivulzio, Milano, Italy.
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Santi
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Monti
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Viganò
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: D'Aprile
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Rampoldi
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Castellani
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Accinni
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Cunietti
mesh_terms: D000135:Acid Phosphatase / Q000097:blood; D000368:Aged; D000469:Alkaline Phosphatase / Q000097:blood; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000097:blood*; D001851:Bone Diseases, Metabolic / Q000097:blood; D001859:Bone Neoplasms / Q000097:blood / Q000556:secondary*; D001862:Bone Resorption; D001842:Bone and Bones / Q000378:metabolism; D002118:Calcium / Q000097:blood / Q000652:urine; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006909:Hydroxyproline / Q000652:urine; D007527:Isoenzymes / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins / Q000097:blood*; D010006:Osteoblasts / Q000378:metabolism; D010446:Peptide Fragments / Q000097:blood*; D010758:Phosphorus / Q000097:blood; D011347:Procollagen / Q000097:blood*; D000071681:Tartrate-Resistant Acid Phosphatase
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D007527:Isoenzymes; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins; D010446:Peptide Fragments; D011347:Procollagen; C042813:procollagen type I carboxy terminal peptide; D010758:Phosphorus; D000469:Alkaline Phosphatase; D000135:Acid Phosphatase; D000071681:Tartrate-Resistant Acid Phosphatase; D006909:Hydroxyproline; D002118:Calcium