INCREASED URINARY-EXCRETION OF PYRIDINIUM CROSS-LINKS IN CANCER-PATIENTS

Pyridinoline (PYD) and deoxypyridinoline (DPD), two collagen-based cro ss-links found in bone, were measured by high-performance liquid chrom atography in urine samples from 65 control subjects and 97 patients wi th either untreated or progressive cancer. Patients with cancer had si gnificantly (P <0.001) higher urine concentrations of PYD and DPD than did control subjects. Both cross-links were increased in cancer patie nts with and without clinically detectable bone metastases, although p atients with bone and liver involvement had higher mean concentrations . The mean concentrations of both cross-links were also significantly higher in the urine samples of inpatients than in an outpatient ambula tory population. These findings suggest that the measurement of PYD an d DPD in urine may be useful in assessing bone metastases and bone res orption in cancer patients.