title: Total procollagen type 1 amino-terminal propeptide (total P1NP) as a bone metastasis marker in gynecological carcinomas.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The aim of this study was the investigation of the diagnostic value of the amino-terminal propeptide of type I collagen (P1NP) and the tumour markers, CA 15-3 and CA 125, in patients with breast and ovarian cancer.
  
  
  METHODS
  Serum levels of P1NP, CA 15-3 and CA 125 were analyzed using specific immunoassays. Baseline serum samples of 66 patients with metastatic breast cancer and 34 patients with metastatic ovarian cancer under chemotherapy were investigated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  P1NP concentrations were elevated in up to 70% of patients with confirmed bone metastases. The P1NP levels were significantly higher in patients with bone metastases (median: 134 ng/ml) than in those without bone spread (median: 58.5 ng/ml).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Markers of biochemical bone remodeling can be used in assessing and managing patients with malignancies that metastasize to bone. These markers are abnormally raised in the blood of patients with metastatic bone disease.
authors.affiliation: Department of Laboratory Medicine, Hospital of the Johann Wolfgang Goethe University, Theodor-Stern-Kai 7, D-60590 Frankfurt am Main, Germany.
authors.forename: Gerhard
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Oremek
authors.forename: Hildegund
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Sauer-Eppel
authors.forename: Martina
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Klepzig
mesh_terms: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000097:blood*; D001859:Bone Neoplasms / Q000097:blood / Q000556:secondary*; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000097:blood / Q000473:pathology*; D018394:CA-125 Antigen / Q000097:blood; D024042:Collagen Type I / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D018396:Mucin-1 / Q000097:blood; D010051:Ovarian Neoplasms / Q000097:blood / Q000473:pathology*; D011379:Prognosis; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D018394:CA-125 Antigen; D024042:Collagen Type I; D018396:Mucin-1