Total and regional bone mass and biochemical markers of bone remodeling in metastatic prostate cancer.
BACKGROUND
The osteolytic activity of metastases of prostate cancer was evaluated in relation to total body bone mineral content (TBBMC) and regional bone mineral content (RBMC).


METHODS
Bone mass was determined by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA). Tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP) was measured as a biochemical marker of bone resorption.


RESULTS
In 32 patients (mean age 72+/-4 years) compared with 32 controls (mean age 73+/-5 years), there were significant differences in TRAP (P < 0.0001), TBBMC (P < 0.0001), and RBMC in the pelvis (P < 0.0001), legs (P=0.0001), and trunk (P<0.05), but not in the arms and head (P=ns). In the overall group of subjects, the correlation between TBBMC and TRAP was r=-0.68, P < 0.0001. The correlations remained significant in the patient and control groups separately.


CONCLUSIONS
The loss of bone mass observed in patients with metastatic prostate cancer was caused mainly by the predominance of bone resorption in the osteoblastic metastases.
Revilla
M
M
Department of Medicine, Alcalá de Henares University, Madrid, Spain.
Arribas
I
I
Sanchez-Chapado
M
M
Villa
L F
LF
Bethencourt
F
F
Rico
H
H
D015502:Absorptiometry, Photon; D000135:Acid Phosphatase / Q000097:blood; D000368:Aged; D000469:Alkaline Phosphatase / Q000097:blood; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood / Q000652:urine; D015519:Bone Density; D001859:Bone Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000556:secondary*; D016723:Bone Remodeling; D001862:Bone Resorption; D002118:Calcium / Q000652:urine; D006801:Humans; D007527:Isoenzymes / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000097:blood / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000652:urine; D012016:Reference Values; D012044:Regression Analysis; D000071681:Tartrate-Resistant Acid Phosphatase
D015415:Biomarkers; D007527:Isoenzymes; D000469:Alkaline Phosphatase; D000135:Acid Phosphatase; D000071681:Tartrate-Resistant Acid Phosphatase; D002118:Calcium