title: [Markers of bone formation in children with osteosarcoma].
abstract: Among biochemical markers, which reflect bone remodeling and can be measured in blood, there are formation markers such as serum bone alkaline phosphatase (BALP) and osteocalcin (OC). Formation markers are considered to be useful in diagnosis and anticancer treatment of many metastatic bone diseases, but the clinical value of these markers in primary osseous tumours such as osteosarcoma is not yet recognized.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was the investigation of BALP activity and OC level in patients with osteosarcoma during clinical treatment.
  
  
  METHODS
  We studied 22 patients (aged 11-19 years) with osteosarcoma, at diagnosis, during preoperative and postoperative chemotherapy and at the end of treatment. The control group consisted of 30 healthy age-matched children. The activity of BALP and the level of OC were measured in serum using ELISA kits.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Our results indicated that both tested parameters were lower during preoperative and postoperative chemotherapy (BALP, p<0.05; OC, p<0.01,p<0.001), in patients group than in controls. However we found higher value of BALP and OC also at diagnosis and during chemotherapy in same patients before occurrence of metastases. Moreover, we observed markedly higher activity of BALP (5:fold) and level of OC (2-fold) in patients with progression in comparison to the group with favourable prognosis, who responded to chemotherapy.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our studies suggest, that investigation of formation markers, especially BALP could be useful in monitoring of osteosarcoma therapy and may be a valuable indicator of the progression of this disease. Further studies with long-term observation of investigated patients are necessary.
authors.affiliation: Zakład Biochemii Klinicznej, Instytut Matki i Dziecka, Kasprzaka 17a, 01-211 Warszawa, Poland. biochem@imid.med.pl
authors.forename: Joanna
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Gajewska
authors.forename: Jadwiga
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ambroszkiewicz
authors.forename: Magdalena
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rychlowska-Pruszynska
authors.forename: Teresa
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Laskowska-Klita
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000469:Alkaline Phosphatase / Q000097:blood*; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000097:blood*; D001859:Bone Neoplasms / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000601:surgery; D001861:Bone Regeneration; D001862:Bone Resorption; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002648:Child; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D015675:Osteocalcin / Q000097:blood*; D012516:Osteosarcoma / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000601:surgery; D011379:Prognosis; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D015675:Osteocalcin; D000469:Alkaline Phosphatase