Serum amino-terminal propeptide of type 1 procollagen (P1NP) in prostate cancer: a potential predictor of bone metastases and prognosticator for disease progression and survival.
BACKGROUND
To determine if amino-terminal propeptide of type 1 procollagen (P1NP) is reliable as a predictor of prostate cancer bone metastases and assess its value as a prognostic indicator of disease progression and survival.


METHODS
A cohort of patients with prostate cancer between January 1999 and July 2001 were recruited. Prostate-specific antigen (PSA) and P1NP levels were measured. Two years following completion of recruitment, patient notes were reviewed for symptoms of bone metastases and survival.


RESULTS
24 negative and 12 equivocal or positive bone scans were reported for 36 recruited patients. Mean PSA values for patients with negative, equivocal and positive scans were 18.3, 24.9 and 122.5 ng/ml while mean P1NP for the same groups were 38.2, 73.4 and 119.9 ng/ml. For patients with equivocal and positive scan, mean P1NP with and without bone symptoms were 111.5 and 65.7 ng/ml while for surviving and dead patients the values were 63.9 and 120.8 ng/ml, respectively.


CONCLUSIONS
Though this study involved a small number of patients, it demonstrates P1NP's potential as a predictor of bone metastases and a prognosticator for disease progression and survival.
Thurairaja
R
R
Department of Urology, Bristol Royal Infirmary, Bristol, UK. rthurairaja@doctors.org.uk
Iles
R K
RK
Jefferson
K
K
McFarlane
J P
JP
Persad
R A
RA
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D001859:Bone Neoplasms / Q000556:secondary*; D018450:Disease Progression; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010748:Phosphopeptides / Q000097:blood*; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011347:Procollagen / Q000097:blood*; D011379:Prognosis; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000097:blood* / Q000401:mortality* / Q000473:pathology; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D015996:Survival Rate
D015415:Biomarkers; C062121:N-propeptide type I collagen; D010748:Phosphopeptides; D011347:Procollagen