TOTAL AND REGIONAL BONE MASS AND BIOCHEMICAL MARKERS OF BONE REMODELING IN METASTATIC PROSTATE-CANCER

BACKGROUND. The osteolytic activity of metastases of prostate cancer w as evaluted in relation to total body bone mineral content (TBBMC) and regional bone mineral content (RBMC). METHODS. Bone mass was determin ed by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA). Tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP) was measured as a biochemical marker of bone resorp tion. RESULTS. In 32 patients (mean age 72 +/- 4 years) compared with 32 controls (mean age 73 +/- 5 years), there were significant differen ces in TRAP (P < 0.0001), TBBMC (P < 0.0001), and RBMC in the pelvis ( P < 0.0001), legs (P = 0.0001), and trunk (P<0.05), but not in the arm s and head (P = ns). In the overall group of subjects, the correlation between TBBMC and TRAP was r = -0.68, P < 0.0001. The correlations re mained significant in the patient and control groups separately. CONCL USIONS. The loss of bone mass observed in patients with metastatic pro state cancer was caused mainly by the predominance of bone resorption in the osteoblastic metastases. (C) 1998 Wiley-Liss, Inc.