Serum type I collagen degradation markers, ICTP and CrossLaps, are factorsfor poor survival in lung cancer

We investigated the prognostic value of the serum markers of type I collage n synthesis (PINP and PICP) and degradation (ICTP and CrossLaps) in 143 lun g cancer patients with a local or locally advanced disease or a metastatic disease. The mean values of ICTP, CrossLaps, PINP and PICP were significant ly higher in patients with bone metastases than in those without metastases or with only soft tissue metastases. The patients with ICTP less than or e qual to 5.0 mu g/l or CrossLaps less than or equal to 5000 pmol/l had a bet ter prognosis. The histopathological type, the site of metastases ol the st age of the disease had no influence on these results. In multivariate regre ssion analysis, both ICTP and CrossLaps in contrast to PINP or PICP, were p rognostic factors for poor survival in lung cancer patients. ICTP, CrossLap s, sedimentation rate, hemoglobin and AFOS reached separately weaker, but s tatistically significant values as predictors of survival with stage and op eration.