PROGNOSTIC VALUE OF THE SERUM LEVELS OF BONE-FORMATION AND BONE-RESORPTION MARKERS IN PROSTATE-CANCER PATIENTS WITH BONE METASTASIS

Objective: The aim of the present study was to determine whether the s erum levels of a bone formation marker, i.e., the carboxy-terminal pro peptide of type I procollagen (PICP), and a bone resorption marker, i. e., the carboxyterminal telopeptide of type I collagen (ICTP) have pro gnostic value in prostate cancer patients with bone metastasis, compar ed with alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and prostate-specific antigen (PSA) . Methods: The serum levels of PICP, ALP, ICTP and PSA were examined i n 116 untreated prostate cancer patients (40 patients with bone metast asis, 76 patients without bone metastasis), and the prognoses of the p atients with bone metastasis were evaluated using univariate and multi variate analyses. Results: The bone metastasis patients with low PICP or ALP values had significantly better outcomes compared to the bone m etastasis patients with high PICP or ALP values. A multivariate analys is of PICP, ICTP, ALP, PSA and the patients' age revealed that PICP an d patients' age were important prognostic Factors for survival. The pr etreatment levels of ICTP and PSA did not show any substantial relatio n to the prognosis of these patients. Conclusions: The results suggest that the pre treatment serum bone formation marker is an important pr ognostic indicator for prostate cancer patients with bone metastasis.