Effects of zoledronic acid on proteinase plasma levels in patients with bone metastases.
BACKGROUND
The effects of the bisphosphonate derivative zoledronic acid (ZA) on the circulating levels of matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2), matrix metallo-proteinases-9 (MMP-9), cathepsin B (Cath B) and urokinase-type plasminogen activator (uPA) in patients with bone metastasis (BMTS) and the possible correlation with the symptomatic response induced by this drug in these patients were evaluated.


METHODS
Proteinase levels were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) in the plasma of 30 patients with painful bone metastases from breast or prostate cancer undergoing multiple treatment with ZA (4 mg i.v., every 4 weeks). Healthy subjects (HS) of both genders (12 female and 30 male) served as the control group. The symptomatic response to ZA was assessed by the visual analog scale score (VAS).


RESULTS
The median MMP-2 and MMP-9 pretreatment levels were more elevated in BMTS as compared to HS (p < or = 0.0001). Conversely, uPA levels were lower in BMTS p = 0.0033; no significant difference was observed for Cath B. ZA administration was associated with a symptomatic response (VAS score < or =4) in 25/30patients (83.3%) (p < 0.0001). This phenomenon paralleled a decrease of Cath B and MMP-2 plasma concentrations from baseline values on week 12 (p = 0.05). A similar trend, although not statistically significant, was also noted for MMP-9 and uPA. However, no direct relationship was observed between the analgesic effect induced by ZA and changes in the circulating levels of these enzymes.


CONCLUSIONS
These data show that ZA administration may provide relief from bone pain in patients with diffuse skeletal metastases and confirm a possible implication of cysteine proteinases and matrix metalloproteinases in bone metastasis formation, but not in the pathogenesis of metastatic bone pain.
Laboratory of Experimental Chemotherapy and Tumor Markers, Policlinico Universitario P. Giaccone, 90127 Palermo, Italy. gleto@unipa.it
Gaetano
G
Leto
Giuseppe
G
Badalamenti
Carlo
C
Arcara
Marilena
M
Crescimanno
Carla
C
Flandina
Francesca Maria
FM
Tumminello
Lorena
L
Incorvaia
Nicola
N
Gebbia
Fabio
F
Fulfaro
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D050071:Bone Density Conservation Agents / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001859:Bone Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000556:secondary; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000201:enzymology / Q000473:pathology; D002401:Cathepsin B / Q000097:blood; D004164:Diphosphonates / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007093:Imidazoles / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008297:Male; D020778:Matrix Metalloproteinase 2 / Q000097:blood; D020780:Matrix Metalloproteinase 9 / Q000097:blood; D008875:Middle Aged; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000201:enzymology / Q000473:pathology; D014568:Urokinase-Type Plasminogen Activator / Q000097:blood; D000077211:Zoledronic Acid
D050071:Bone Density Conservation Agents; D004164:Diphosphonates; D007093:Imidazoles; D000077211:Zoledronic Acid; D014568:Urokinase-Type Plasminogen Activator; D002401:Cathepsin B; D020778:Matrix Metalloproteinase 2; D020780:Matrix Metalloproteinase 9